water

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wæter; akin to Old High German wazzar water, Greek hydōr, Latin unda wave Date: before 12th century 1. a. the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent b. a natural mineral water — usually used in plural 2. a particular quantity or body of water: as a. (1) plural the water occupying or flowing in a particular bed (2) chiefly British lake, pond b. a quantity or depth of water adequate for some purpose (as navigation) c. plural (1) a band of seawater abutting on the land of a particular sovereignty and under the control of that sovereignty (2) the sea of a particular part of the earth d. water supply <

threatened to turn off the water

> 3. travel or transportation on water <

we went by water

> 4. the level of water at a particular state of the tide ; tide 5. liquid containing or resembling water: as a. (1) a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation made with water (2) a watery solution of a gaseous or readily volatile substance — compare ammonia water b. archaic a distilled fluid (as an essence); especially a distilled alcoholic liquor c. a watery fluid (as tears, urine, or sap) formed or circulating in a living body d. amniotic fluid; also bag of waters 6. a. the degree of clarity and luster of a precious stone b. degree of excellence <

a scholar of the first water

> 7. watercolor 8. a. stock not representing assets of the issuing company and not backed by earning power b. fictitious or exaggerated asset entries that give a stock an unrealistic book value II. verb Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to moisten, sprinkle, or soak with water <

water the lawn

> 2. to supply with water for drink <

water cattle

> 3. to supply water to <

lands watered by the river

> 4. to treat with or as if with water; specifically to impart a lustrous appearance and wavy pattern to (cloth) by calendering 5. a. to dilute by the addition of water — often used with down <

water down the punch

> b. to add to the aggregate par value of (securities) without a corresponding addition to the assets represented by the securities intransitive verb 1. to form or secrete water or watery matter (as tears or saliva) 2. to get or take water: as a. to take on a supply of water <

the boat docked to water

> b. to drink water