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a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H 2 O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight.
a special form or variety of this liquid, as rain.
Often, waters. this liquid in an impure state as obtained from a mineral spring:
Last year we went to Marienbad for the waters.
the liquid content of a river, inlet, etc., with reference to its relative height, especially as dependent on tide:
a difference of 20 feet between high and low water.
the surface of a stream, river, lake, ocean, etc.:
above, below, or on the water.
waters.

flowing water, or water moving in waves:
The river’s mighty waters.
the sea or seas bordering a particular country or continent or located in a particular part of the world:
We left San Diego and sailed south for Mexican waters.

a liquid solution or preparation, especially one used for cosmetic purposes:
lavender water; lemon water.
Often, waters. Medicine/Medical.

amniotic fluid.
the bag of waters; amnion:
Her water broke at 2 a.m.

any of various solutions of volatile or gaseous substances in water:
ammonia water.
any liquid or aqueous organic secretion, exudation, humor, or the like, as tears, perspiration, or urine.
Finance. fictitious assets or the inflated values they give to the stock of a corporation.
a wavy, lustrous pattern or marking, as on silk fabrics or metal surfaces.
(formerly) the degree of transparency and brilliancy of a diamond or other precious stone.
take water, (of a boat) to allow water to enter through leaks or portholes or over the side.
to sprinkle, moisten, or drench with water:
to water the flowers; to water a street.
to supply (animals) with water for drinking.
to furnish with a supply of water, as a ship.
to furnish water to (a region), as by streams; supply (land) with water, as by irrigation:
The valley is watered by a branch of the Colorado River. Our land is watered by the All-American Canal.
to dilute, weaken, soften, or adulterate with, or as with, water (often followed by down):
to water soup; to water down an unfavorable report.
Finance. to issue or increase the par value of (shares of stock) without having the assets to warrant doing so (often followed by down).
to produce a wavy, lustrous pattern, marking, or finish on (fabrics, metals, etc.):
watered silk.
to discharge, fill with, or secrete water or liquid, as the eyes when irritated, or as the mouth at the sight or thought of tempting food.
to drink water, as an animal.
to take in a supply of water, as a ship:
Our ship will water at Savannah.
of or relating to water in any way:
a water journey.
holding, or designed to hold, water:
a water jug.
worked or powered by water:
a water turbine.
heating, pumping, or circulating water (often used in combination):
hot-water furnace; city waterworks.
used in or on water:
water skis.
containing or prepared with water, as for hardening or dilution:
water mortar.
located or occurring on, in, or by water:
water music; water frontage.
residing by or in, or ruling over, water:
water people; water deities.
above water, out of embarrassment or trouble, especially of a financial nature:
They had so many medical bills that they could hardly keep their heads above water.
break water,

to break the surface of the water by emerging from it.
Swimming. to break the surface of the water with the feet, especially in swimming the breaststroke doing the frog kick.
Medicine/Medical. to break the amniotic sac prior to parturition.

by water, by ship or boat:
to send goods by water.
dead in the water. dead (def 41).
hold water,

to be logical, defensible, or valid:
That accusation won’t hold water.
to check the movement of a rowboat by keeping the oars steady with the blades vertical.

in deep water, in great distress or difficulty:
Their marriage has been in deep water for some time.
in hot water. hot water.
like water, lavishly; abundantly; freely:
The champagne flowed like water.
make one’s mouth water, to excite a desire or appetite for something:
The roasting turkey made our mouths water.
make water,

(of a boat) to allow water to enter; leak.
to urinate.

tread water. tread (def 23).
Contemporary Examples

Navy Seal Training: The Start of Hell Week Marcus Luttrell, Patrick Robinson May 7, 2011
Staten Island v. New York City Marathon Megan McArdle November 1, 2012
Porn Star James Deen on His ‘Canyons’ Experience With Lindsay Lohan Marlow Stern January 16, 2013
Muammar Gaddafi’s 25 Strangest Moments David A. Graham February 22, 2011
Libya Uprising: Gaddafi’s Bloody Siege of Misrata Babak Dehghanpisheh April 2, 2011

Historical Examples

L’Assommoir Emile Zola
Philothea Lydia Maria Child
Lippincott’s Magazine, Vol. 20, August 1877 Various
The Spenders Harry Leon Wilson
The Coming Conquest of England August Niemann

noun
a clear colourless tasteless odourless liquid that is essential for plant and animal life and constitutes, in impure form, rain, oceans, rivers, lakes, etc. It is a neutral substance, an effective solvent for many compounds, and is used as a standard for many physical properties. Formula: H2O related adjective aqueous related combining_forms hydro- aqua-

any body or area of this liquid, such as a sea, lake, river, etc
(as modifier): water sports, water transport, a water plant, related adjective aquatic

the surface of such a body or area: fish swam below the water
any form or variety of this liquid, such as rain
See high water, low water
any of various solutions of chemical substances in water: lithia water, ammonia water
(physiol)

any fluid secreted from the body, such as sweat, urine, or tears
(usually pl) the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb

a wavy lustrous finish on some fabrics, esp silk
(archaic) the degree of brilliance in a diamond See also first water
excellence, quality, or degree (in the phrase of the first water)
(finance)

capital stock issued without a corresponding increase in paid-up capital, so that the book value of the company’s capital is not fully represented by assets or earning power
the fictitious or unrealistic asset entries that reflect such inflated book value of capital

(modifier) (astrology) of or relating to the three signs of the zodiac Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces Compare air (sense 20), earth (sense 10), fire (sense 24)
(informal) above the water, out of trouble or difficulty, esp financial trouble
hold water, to prove credible, logical, or consistent: the alibi did not hold water
in deep water, in trouble or difficulty
make water

to urinate
(of a boat, hull, etc) to let in water

pass water, to urinate
test the water, See test1 (sense 5)
(informal) throw cold water on, pour cold water on, to be unenthusiastic about or discourage
water under the bridge, events that are past and done with
verb
(transitive) to sprinkle, moisten, or soak with water
(transitive) often foll by down. to weaken by the addition of water
(intransitive) (of the eyes) to fill with tears
(intransitive) (of the mouth) to salivate, esp in anticipation of food (esp in the phrase make one’s mouth water)
(transitive) to irrigate or provide with water: to water the land, he watered the cattle
(intransitive) to drink water
(intransitive) (of a ship, etc) to take in a supply of water
(transitive) (finance) to raise the par value of (issued capital stock) without a corresponding increase in the real value of assets
(transitive) to produce a wavy lustrous finish on (fabrics, esp silk)
n.
v.

water
(wô’tər)
A colorless, odorless compound of hydrogen and oxygen. Water covers about three-quarters of the Earth’s surface in solid form (ice) and liquid form, and is prevalent in the lower atmosphere in its gaseous form, water vapor. Water is an unusually good solvent for a large variety of substances, and is an essential component of all organisms, being necessary for most biological processes. Unlike most substances, water is less dense as ice than in liquid form; thus, ice floats on liquid water. Water freezes at 0°C (32°F) and boils at 100°C (212°F). Chemical formula: H2O.

water down
water over the dam