The Wordsmith Dictionary

wa ter bod y |ˈwôtərˌbädē, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərbɑdi | ▶noun ( pl. waterbodies ) a body of water forming a physiographical feature, for example a sea or a reservoir.

water-bomber

wa ter-bomb er ▶noun an aircraft used for extinguishing forest fires by dropping water.

waterborne

wa ter borne |ˈwɑdər bɔrn | ▶adjective conveyed by, traveling on, or involving travel or transportation on water. • (of a disease ) communicated or propagated by contaminated water.

waterbrash

water |brash |ˈwɔːtəbraʃ | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a sudden flow of saliva associated with indigestion. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from water + dialect brash ‘eruption of fluid from the stomach ’.

waterbuck

wa ter buck |ˈwôtərˌbək, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərbək | ▶noun a large African antelope occurring near rivers and lakes in the savanna. [Kobus ellipsiprymnus, family Bovidae. ]

water buffalo

wa ter buf fa lo |ˈwɔdər ˌbəfəloʊ | ▶noun a large black domesticated buffalo with heavy swept-back horns, used as a beast of burden throughout the tropics. [Genus Bubalus, family Bovidae: the domesticated B. bubalis, descended from the wild B. arnee, which is confined to remote parts of India and Southeast Asia. ]

Waterbury

Wa ter bury |ˈwôtərˌberē, ˈwätər -ˈwɔtərbɛri | an industrial city in western Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, a historic brass-manufacturing center; pop. 107,037 (est. 2008 ).

water butt

water butt ▶noun a large barrel used for catching and storing rainwater.

water cannon

wa ter can non |ˈwɔdər ˌkænən | ▶noun a device that ejects a powerful jet of water, typically used to disperse a crowd.

Water Carrier

Water Carrier (the Water Carrier ) the zodiacal sign or constellation Aquarius.

water chestnut

wa ter chest nut |ˈwɔdər ˌtʃɛs (t )nət | ▶noun 1 (also Chinese water chestnut ) the tuber of a tropical sedge that is widely used in Asian cooking, its white flesh remaining crisp after cooking. 2 the sedge that yields this tuber, which is cultivated in flooded fields in Southeast Asia. [Eleocharis tuberosa, family Cyperaceae. ] 3 (also water caltrop ) an aquatic plant with small white flowers, producing an edible rounded seed with two large projecting horns. [Trapa natans, family Trapaceae. ]

water clock

wa ter clock |ˈwɔdər | ▶noun historical a clock that used the flow of water to measure time.

water closet

wa ter clos et |ˈwɔdər ˌklɑzət | ▶noun dated a flush toilet. • a room containing such a toilet.

watercock

wa ter cock |ˈwôtərˌkäk, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərkɑk | ▶noun a brown and gray aquatic Asian rail, the male of which develops black plumage and a red frontal shield in the breeding season. [Gallicrex cinerea, family Rallidae. ]

watercolor

wa ter col or |ˈwôtərˌkələr, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərkələr |(Brit. watercolour ) ▶noun (also watercolors ) artists' paint made with a water-soluble binder such as gum arabic, and thinned with water rather than oil, giving a transparent color. • a picture painted with watercolors. • the art of painting with watercolors, esp. using a technique of producing paler colors by diluting rather than by adding white. DERIVATIVES wa ter col or ist noun

water-cooled

water-cooled ▶adjective (especially of a machine ) cooled by the circulation of water: a water-cooled reactor.

water cooler

wa ter cool er |ˈwɔdər | ▶noun a dispenser of cooled drinking water, typically used in office workplaces. • informal used to refer to the type of informal conversation or socializing among office workers that takes place in the communal area in which such a dispenser is located: the subtleties of film noir haven't exactly been a hot topic around the water cooler | [ as modifier ] : a water-cooler chat about the president.

watercourse

wa ter course |ˈwôtərˌkôrs, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌkɔrs ˈwɑdərˌkɔrs | ▶noun a brook, stream, or artificially constructed water channel. • the bed along which this flows.

watercraft

wa ter craft |ˈwôtərˌkraft, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərkræft | ▶noun ( pl. same ) 1 a boat or other vessel that travels on water. 2 skill in sailing and other activities that take place on water.

watercress

wa ter cress |ˈwôtərˌkres, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌkrɛs ˈwɑdərˌkrɛs | ▶noun a cress that grows in running water and whose pungent leaves are used in salad. [Nasturtium officinale, family Brassicaceae. ]

water cricket

water cricket ▶noun a predatory water bug that runs on the surface film of water, related to the pond skater but with shorter legs. ●Family Veliidae, suborder Heteroptera: several genera, in particular Velia.

water crowfoot

wa ter crow foot ▶noun see crowfoot.

water cure

wa ter cure ▶noun chiefly historical a session of treatment by hydropathy.

water cycle

wa ter cy cle ▶noun the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration.

water deer

water deer (also Chinese water deer ) ▶noun a small deer without antlers, the male having a pair of tusk-like canine teeth, native to China and Korea. ●Hydropotes inermis, family Cervidae.

water diviner

water div |iner ▶noun Brit. a person who searches for underground water by using a dowsing rod.

waterdog

wa ter dog |ˈwôtərˌdôg, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərdɔɡ | ▶noun an aquatic North American salamander that is a smaller relative of the mudpuppy, typically living in flowing water. [Genus Necturus, family Proteidae: several species. ]

water dropwort

water drop |wort ▶noun a widely distributed poisonous plant of the parsley family, which grows in wet habitats. ●Genus Oenanthe, family Umbelliferae: several species, in particular O. crocata of Europe.

water drum

water drum ▶noun 1 a West African instrument played by striking a bowl or gourd floating upside down in a pail of water. 2 an American Indian drum partly filled with water to adjust the pitch and timbre.

watered silk

wa tered silk |ˈwɔdərd | ▶noun silk that has been treated in such a way as to give it a wavy lustrous finish.

waterfall

wa ter fall |ˈwôtərˌfôl, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌfɔl ˈwɑdərˌfɔl | ▶noun a cascade of water falling from a height, formed when a river or stream flows over a precipice or steep incline.

water feature

water fea |ture ▶noun a pond or fountain in a garden.

water fern

wa ter fern ▶noun 1 a small aquatic or semiaquatic fern that is either free-floating or anchored by the roots, found chiefly in tropical and warm countries. [Families Azollaceae, Marsileaceae and Salviniaceae: many species, in particular the minute floating Azolla filiculoides of tropical America, which has been naturalized elsewhere. ] 2 an Australian fern with large coarse fronds, typically growing in marshy areas and rain forests. [Genus Blechnum, family Blechnaceae: several species. ]

water flea

wa ter flea ▶noun another term for daphnia.

Waterford

Wa ter ford |ˈwôtərfərd, ˈwätər -ˈwɔdərfərd | 1 a county in southeastern Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster; main administrative center, Dungarvan. • its county town, a port on an inlet of St. George's Channel; pop. 45,748 (2006 ). It is noted for its clear, colorless flint glass, known as Waterford crystal. 2 a town in southeastern Connecticut, east of New London; pop. 18,794 (est. 2008 ). 3 a city in southeastern Michigan, northwest of Pontiac; pop. 73,150 (2000 ).

Waterford glass

Wa ter ford glass ▶noun fine clear, colorless flint glassware first manufactured in Waterford, Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries.

waterfowl

wa ter fowl |ˈwôtərˌfoul, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌfaʊl ˈwɑdərˌfaʊl | ▶plural noun ducks, geese, or other large aquatic birds, esp. when regarded as game.

waterfowling

waterfowling ▶noun [ mass noun ] the practice or activity of hunting waterfowl. DERIVATIVES waterfowler noun

waterfront

wa ter front |ˈwôtərˌfrənt, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌfrənt ˈwɑdərˌfrənt | ▶noun a part of a town that borders a body of water.

water gap

wa ter gap ▶noun a transverse gap in a mountain ridge through which a stream or river flows.

water garden

wa ter gar den ▶noun a garden with pools or a stream, for growing aquatic plants.

water gas

wa ter gas ▶noun a fuel gas consisting mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, made by passing steam over incandescent coke.

Watergate

Wa ter gate |ˈwôtərˌgāt, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərɡeɪt | a political scandal in which an attempt to bug the national headquarters of the Democratic Party (in the Watergate building in Washington, DC ) led to the resignation of President Nixon (1974 ).

watergate

wa ter gate |ˈwôtərˌgāt, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərɡeɪt | ▶noun a gate of a town or castle opening on to a lake, river, or sea. • archaic a sluice; a floodgate.

water glass

wa ter glass ▶noun 1 a solution of sodium or potassium silicate. It solidifies on exposure to air and is used to make silica gel and for preserving eggs and hardening artificial stone. 2 an instrument for making observations beneath the surface of water, consisting of a bucket with a glass bottom.

water gun

wa ter gun |ˈwɔdər | ▶noun a water pistol.

water hammer

wa ter ham mer ▶noun a knocking noise in a water pipe that occurs when a tap is turned off briskly.

water hawthorn

water haw |thorn ▶noun [ mass noun ] an ornamental water plant with long oval floating leaves and erect aromatic flower spikes, native to the South African province of Western Cape where the flower spikes are used in cooking. ●Aponogeton distachyus, family Aponogetonaceae.

water heater

water heat ¦er ▶noun a device for heating domestic water.

water hemlock

wa ter hem lock ▶noun a highly poisonous plant of the parsley family that grows in ditches and marshy ground. Also called cowbane. [Genus Cicuta, family Umbelliferae: several species, in particular the North American C. maculata (also called water hemlock (see cowbane )). ]

waterhen

wa ter hen |ˈwôtərˌhen, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərhɛn | ▶noun an aquatic rail, esp. a moorhen or related bird. [Genera Gallinula and Amaurornis, family Rallidae. ]

waterhole

wa ter hole |ˈwôtərˌhōl, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌhoʊl ˈwɑdərˌhoʊl | ▶noun a depression in which water collects, esp. one from which animals regularly drink.

Waterhouse, Alfred

Water |house |ˈwɔːtəhaʊs | (1830 –1905 ), English architect. His designs include the Manchester Assize courts (1859 ) and Town Hall (1869 –77 ), and the Natural History Museum in London (1873 –81 ).

water hyacinth

wa ter hy a cinth ▶noun a free-floating tropical American water plant that has been introduced elsewhere as an ornamental and in some warmer regions has become a serious weed of waterways. [Eichhornia crassipes, family Pontederiaceae. ]

water ice

wa ter ice |ˈwɔdər ˌaɪs | ▶noun sorbet.

watering can

wa ter ing can |ˈwɔdərɪŋ ˌkæn | ▶noun a portable water container with a long spout and a detachable perforated cap, used for watering plants.

watering hole

wa ter ing hole |ˈwɔdərɪŋ ˌhoʊl | ▶noun a waterhole from which animals regularly drink. • informal a tavern or bar.

watering place

wa ter ing place |ˈwɔdərɪŋ ˌpleɪs | ▶noun a watering hole. • a spa or seaside resort.

water injection

water in |jec ¦tion ▶noun [ mass noun ] (in the oil industry ) the forcing of water into a reservoir formation, in particular as a technique of secondary recovery.

water jacket

wa ter jack et ▶noun a casing containing water surrounding and protecting something from extremes of temperature. DERIVATIVES wa ter-jack et ed adjective

water jump

wa ter jump |ˈwɔdər ˌʤəmp | ▶noun an obstacle in a jumping competition or steeplechase, where a horse must jump over or into water.

water knot

water knot ▶noun a kind of knot used to join two fishing lines.

waterleaf

wa ter leaf |ˈwôtərˌlēf, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərlif | ▶noun a North American woodland plant with bell-shaped flowers and leaves that appear to be stained with water. [Genus Hydrophyllum, family Hydrophyllaceae. ]

water lettuce

wa ter let tuce ▶noun a tropical aquatic plant of the arum family that forms a floating rosette of leaves. [Pistia stratiotes, family Araceae. ]

water level

wa ter lev el |ˈwɔdər ˌlɛvəl | ▶noun 1 the height reached by the water in a reservoir, river, storage tank, etc. • another term for water table. 2 an instrument that uses water to indicate the horizontal.

water lily

wa ter li ly |ˈwɔdər ˌlɪli | ▶noun an ornamental aquatic plant with large round floating leaves and large, typically cup-shaped, floating flowers. [Family Nymphaeaceae: several genera and many species, including the white-flowered fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata ) of eastern North America, and the yellow-flowered Indian pond lily of California (Nuphar polysepalum ).]

waterline

wa ter line |ˈwôtərˌlīn, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌlaɪn ˈwɑdərˌlaɪn | ▶noun 1 the level normally reached by the water on the side of a ship. • the level reached by the sea or a river visible as a line on a rock face, beach, or riverbank. • any of a set of structural lines of a ship, parallel with the surface of the water, representing the contour of the hull at various heights above the keel and drawn on shipbuilding plans. 2 a vertical watermark made in laid paper.

waterlogged

wa ter logged |ˈwôtərˌlôgd, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌlɔɡd ˈwɑdərˌlɔɡd | ▶adjective saturated with or full of water: the race was called off after parts of the course were found to be waterlogged. ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: past participle of the verb waterlog ‘make (a ship ) unmanageable by flooding, ’ from water + the verb log 1 .

Waterloo

Wa ter loo |ˌwôtərˈlo͞o, ˌwä -, ˈwôtərˌlo͞o, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərˌlu ˌwɔtərˈlu | 1 an industrial and commercial city in northeastern Iowa; pop. 66,662 (est. 2008 ). 2 see Austin 1.

Waterloo, Battle of

Wa ter loo, Battle of |ˈwôtərˌlo͞o, ˈwä -ˌbædl əv ˌwɔtərˈlu | a battle fought on June 18, 1815, near the village of Waterloo (in what is now Belgium ), in which Napoleon's army was defeated by the British (under the Duke of Wellington ) and Prussians. The allied pursuit caused Napoleon's army to disintegrate entirely, ending his bid to return to power. • (as noun a Waterloo ) a decisive defeat or failure: his team met their Waterloo .

water main

wa ter main |ˈwɔdər ˌmeɪn | ▶noun a main line in a water supply system.

waterman

wa ter man |ˈwôtərmən, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərmən | ▶noun ( pl. watermen ) a boatman. • an oarsman who has attained a particular level of knowledge or skill.

watermark

wa ter mark |ˈwôtərˌmärk, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌmɑrk ˈwɑdərˌmɑrk | ▶noun a faint design made in some paper during manufacture, which is visible when held against the light and typically identifies the maker. ▶verb [ with obj. ] mark with such a design.

water mass

wa ter mass ▶noun a large body of seawater that is distinguishable esp. by its characteristic temperature and salinity range.

water meadow

water meadow ▶noun a meadow that is periodically flooded by a stream or river.

water measurer

wa ter meas ur er ▶noun a long, thin aquatic bug that walks slowly on the surface film of water and spears small prey with its beak. [Genus Hydrometra, family Hydrometridae, suborder Heteroptera: several species. ]

watermelon

wa ter mel on |ˈwôtərˌmelən, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌmɛlən ˈwɑdərˌmɛlən | ▶noun 1 the large melonlike fruit of a plant of the gourd family, with smooth green skin, red pulp, and watery juice. 2 the widely cultivated African plant that yields this fruit. [Citrullus lanatus, family Cucurbitaceae. ]

water milfoil

wa ter mil foil ▶noun see milfoil ( sense 2 ).

water mill

wa ter mill |ˈwôtərˌmil, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərmɪl | ▶noun a mill worked by a waterwheel.

water moccasin

wa ter moc ca sin |ˈwɔdər | ▶noun another term for cottonmouth.

water mold

wa ter mold ▶noun any of a group of fungi-like organisms that live in water or soil, many of which are parasitic on plants. [Phlya Chytridiomycota and Oomycota, kingdom Protista. ]

water nymph

wa ter nymph ▶noun (in folklore and classical mythology ) a nymph inhabiting or presiding over water, esp. a Naiad or Nereid.

water of crystallization

wa ter of crys tal li za tion ▶noun Chemistry water molecules forming an essential part of the crystal structure of some compounds.

water opossum

wa ter o pos sum (also water possum ) ▶noun another term for yapok.

water ouzel

wa ter ou zel ▶noun another term for dipper ( sense 1 ).

water parsnip

wa ter pars nip ▶noun a tall plant of the parsley family that lives in or near water. [Sium latifolium and Berula erecta, family Umbelliferae. ]

water pepper

wa ter pep per ▶noun a widely distributed plant of the dock family that grows in wet ground, with peppery-tasting leaves and sap that is a skin irritant. [Genus Polygonum, family Polygonaceae: several species, in particular P. hydropiper. ]

water pipe

wa ter pipe ▶noun 1 a pipe for conveying water. 2 a pipe for smoking tobacco, cannabis, etc. , that draws the smoke through water to cool it.

water pistol

wa ter pis tol |ˈwɔdər ˌpɪstl | ▶noun a toy pistol that shoots a jet of water.

waterplane

waterplane |ˈwɔːtəplɛɪn | ▶noun the horizontal plane which passes through a floating ship on a level with the waterline.

water plantain

wa ter plan tain ▶noun an aquatic or marshland plant of north temperate regions, with leaves that resemble those of plantains and a tall stem bearing numerous white or pink flowers. [Genus Alisma, family Alismataceae: several species, including A. trivale. ]

water polo

wa ter po lo |ˈwɔdər ˌpoʊloʊ | ▶noun a seven-a-side game played by swimmers in a pool, with a ball like a volleyball that is thrown into the opponent's net.

water power

wa ter pow er |ˈwɔdər ˌpaʊ (ə )r | ▶noun power that is derived from the weight or motion of water, used as a force to drive machinery. DERIVATIVES wa ter-pow ered adjective

waterproof

wa ter proof |ˈwôtərˌpro͞of, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌpruf ˈwɑdərˌpruf | ▶adjective impervious to water: a waterproof hat. • not liable to be washed away by water: waterproof ink. ▶noun Brit. a garment, esp. a coat, that keeps out water. ▶verb [ with obj. ] make impervious to water. DERIVATIVES wa ter proof er noun, wa ter proof ness noun

water purslane

water purs |lane ▶noun a creeping Eurasian plant of damp places and bare ground. ●Lythrum portula, family Lythraceae.

water rail

water rail ▶noun a secretive Eurasian marshbird with dark grey and brown plumage, making loud grunts and squeals in the breeding season. ●Rallus aquaticus, family Rallidae.

water rat

wa ter rat |ˈwɔdər ˌræt | ▶noun any of a number of semiaquatic rodents, in particular: [the Florida water rat (Neofiber alleni, family Muridae ) of Florida and southern Georgia, and the muskrat . ]

water rate

water rate ▶noun (usu. water rates ) a charge made for the use of a public water supply.

water-repellent

wa ter-re pel lent |ˈwɔdər rəˌpɛlənt | ▶adjective not easily penetrated by water, esp. as a result of being treated for such a purpose with a surface coating.

water-resistant

wa ter-re sis tant |ˈwɔdər rəˌzɪstənt | ▶adjective able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely. DERIVATIVES wa ter-re sis tance noun

water right

wa ter right ▶noun 1 [ usu. pl. ] the right to make use of the water from a stream, lake, or irrigation canal. 2 Nautical the right to navigate on particular waters.

Waters, Ethel

Wa ters, Ethel |ˈwôtərz, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərz | (1896 –1977 ), US singer and actress. A blues and jazz singer, she made songs such as “Dinah ” (1925 ) and “Stormy Weather ” (1933 ) popular. She acted on Broadway in Cabin in the Sky (1940 ) and The Member of the Wedding (1950 ) and in movies such as Pinky (1949 ).

Waters, Muddy

Wa ters, Muddy |ˈwɔdərz ˈwôtərz | (1915 –83 ), US blues singer and guitarist; born McKinley Morganfield. He recorded “Rollin' Stone ” in 1950, and that year formed a blues band, with which he had such hits as “Got My Mojo Working ” (1957 ). The Rolling Stones took their name from his 1950 song.

waterscape

wa ter scape |ˈwôtərˌskāp, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərskeɪp | ▶noun a landscape in which an expanse of water is a dominant feature.

water scorpion

wa ter scor pi on ▶noun a mainly tropical predatory water bug with grasping forelegs, breathing from the surface via a bristlelike “tail. ” [Family Nepidae, suborder Heteroptera: several genera including the Nepa and Ranatra. ]

watershed

wa ter shed |ˈwôtərˌSHed, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌʃɛd ˈwɑdərˌʃɛd | ▶noun 1 an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas. • an area or region drained by a river, river system, or other body of water. 2 an event or period marking a turning point in a course of action or state of affairs: these works mark a watershed in the history of music. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from water + shed in the sense ‘ridge of high ground ’ (related to shed 2 ), suggested by German Wasserscheide, literally ‘water-divide. ’

water shoot

water shoot ▶noun a vigorous but unproductive shoot from the trunk, main branch, or root of a tree.

water shrew

wa ter shrew ▶noun a large semiaquatic shrew that preys on aquatic invertebrates. [Four genera, family Soricidae: several species, in particular the American water shrew (Sorex palustris ) and the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens ).]

waterside

wa ter side |ˈwôtərˌsīd, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌsaɪd ˈwɑdərˌsaɪd | ▶noun the edge of or area adjoining a sea, lake, or river.

watersider

watersider ▶noun Austral. /NZ a person employed to load and unload a ship's cargo.

waterski

wa ter ski |ˈwôtərˌskē, ˈwä -ˈwɔːtərskiː | ▶noun ( pl. waterskis ) each of a pair of skis enabling the wearer to skim the surface of the water when towed by a motorboat. ▶verb [ no obj. ] skim the surface of water on waterskis. DERIVATIVES wa ter ski er noun

water slide

wa ter slide ▶noun a slide into a swimming pool, typically flowing with water and incorporating a number of twists and turns.

water snake

wa ter snake ▶noun a harmless snake that is a powerful swimmer and spends part of its time in fresh water hunting for prey. Water snakes are found in Africa, Asia, and America. [Natrix and other genera, family Colubridae: several species. ]

water softener

wa ter sof ten er |ˈwɔdər ˌsɔf (ə )nər | ▶noun a device or substance that softens hard water by removing certain minerals.

water soldier

wa ter sol dier ▶noun an aquatic European plant with slender, spiny-toothed leaves in submerged rosettes that rise to the surface at flowering time. [Stratiotes aloides, family Hydrocharitaceae. ]

water-soluble

wa ter-sol u ble ▶adjective able to be dissolved in water: the paint is water-soluble | water-soluble vitamins.

water spider

wa ter spi der ▶noun a semiaquatic spider. [Several species, including the European Argyroneta aquatica (family Argyronetidae ), which lives in an underwater dome of silk filled with air. ]

water splash

water splash ▶noun Brit. a water-filled dip in a road.

water sports

wa ter sports |ˈwɔdər ˌspɔrts | ▶plural noun sports that are carried out on water, such as waterskiing and windsurfing. • informal sexual activity involving urination.

waterspout

wa ter spout |ˈwôtərˌspout, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌspaʊt ˈwɑdərˌspaʊt | ▶noun a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea or other body of water.

water starwort

water star |wort ▶noun a widely distributed slender-leaved plant which grows in water or on mud and is sometimes used in aquaria. ●Genus Callitriche, family Callitrichaceae.

water stick insect

water stick in ¦sect ▶noun a very long, slender European water bug related to the water scorpion, which waits motionless in vegetation for prey to pass. ●Ranatra linearis, family Nepidae, suborder Heteroptera.

water stone

wa ter stone ▶noun a whetstone used with water rather than oil.

water strider

wa ter strid er |ˈwɔdər | ▶noun a slender predatory bug that moves quickly across the surface film of water, using its front legs for catching prey. [Family Gerridae, suborder Heteroptera: Gerris and other genera. ]

water table

wa ter ta ble |ˈwɔdər ˌteɪbəl | ▶noun the level below which the ground is saturated with water. Compare with phreatic, vadose.

water taxi

wa ter tax i ▶noun a small motorboat for transporting paying passengers on rivers, canals, etc.

waterthrush

wa ter thrush |ˈwôtərˌTHrəSH, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərˌθrəʃ | ▶noun a thrushlike North American warbler related to the ovenbird, found near woodland streams and swamps. [Genus Seiurus, subfamily Parulinae, family Emberizidae: two species. ]

watertight

wa ter tight |ˈwôtərˌtīt, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌtaɪt ˈwɑdərˌtaɪt | ▶adjective closely sealed, fastened, or fitted so that no water enters or passes through: a watertight seal. • (of an argument or account ) unable to be disputed or questioned: their alibis are watertight.

watertight compartment

wa ter tight com part ment ▶noun any of the sections with intervening watertight partitions into which the interior of a large ship is now usually divided for safety.

water torture

wa ter tor ture ▶noun a form of torture in which the victim is exposed to the incessant dripping of water on the head or to the sound of dripping.

water tower

wa ter tow er |ˈwɔdər ˌtaʊ (ə )r | ▶noun a tower supporting an elevated water tank, whose height creates the pressure required to distribute the water through a piped system.

Watertown

Wa ter town |ˈwôtərˌtoun, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərtaʊn | 1 an industrial city in eastern Massachusetts, on the Charles River, west of Boston; pop. 32,365 (est. 2008 ). 2 an industrial and commercial city in north central New York, near Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands; pop. 27,310 (est. 2008 ). 3 a city in northeastern South Dakota; pop. 20,488 (est. 2008 ). 4 an industrial city in south central Wisconsin; pop. 22,930 (est. 2008 ).

water-tube boiler

water-tube boil ¦er ▶noun a form of boiler in which steam is generated by circulating water through tubes exposed to the source of heat (as opposed to the more usual arrangement in which tubes carry hot gases through the water ).

water-vascular system

wa ter-vas cu lar sys tem ▶noun Zoology (in an echinoderm ) a network of water vessels in the body, the tube feet being operated by hydraulic pressure within the vessels.

Waterville

Wa ter ville |ˈwôtərvil, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərvɪl | a commercial city in south central Maine, on the Kennebec River; pop. 16,016 (est. 2008 ).

water violet

water vio ¦let ▶noun an aquatic plant of the primrose family, with lilac flowers and finely divided submerged leaves. ●Hottonia palustris, family Primulaceae.

water vole

water vole ▶noun a large semiaquatic vole which excavates burrows in the banks of rivers. ●Genera Arvicola and Microtus, family Muridae: three species, in particular the European water vole (A. terrestris ) and the American water vole (M. richardsoni ).

waterway

wa ter way |ˈwôtərˌwā, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌweɪ ˈwɑdərˌweɪ | ▶noun 1 a river, canal, or other route for travel by water. 2 a thick plank or angle iron at the outer edge of the deck of a vessel, which joins the vessel's side to its deck and directs water overboard via the scuppers.

waterweed

wa ter weed |ˈwôtərˌwēd, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərwid | ▶noun 1 any aquatic plant with inconspicuous flowers, esp. a pondweed. 2 a submerged aquatic American plant that is grown in aquariums and ornamental ponds. [Genus Elodea, family Hydrocharitaceae: several species, in particular E. canadensis. ]

waterwheel

wa ter wheel |ˈwôtərˌ (h )wēl, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌ (h )wil ˈwɑdərˌ (h )wil | ▶noun a large wheel driven by flowing water, used to work machinery or to raise water to a higher level.

water wings

wa ter wings |ˈwɔdər ˌwɪŋz | ▶plural noun inflated floats that may be fixed to the arms of someone learning to swim to give increased buoyancy.

water witch

wa ter witch (also water witcher ) ▶noun a person who searches for underground water by using a dowsing rod. DERIVATIVES wa ter witch ing noun

Water Wonderland

Wa ter Won der land a nickname for the state of Michigan.

waterworks

wa ter works |ˈwôtərˌwərks, ˈwä -ˈwɔdərˌwərks ˈwɑdərˌwərks | ▶plural noun 1 [ treated as sing. ] an establishment for managing a water supply. 2 informal used to refer to the shedding of tears: she is an expert at turning on the waterworks to manipulate others.

watery

wa ter y |ˈwôtərē, ˈwä -ˈwɑdəri | ▶adjective consisting of, containing, or resembling water: a watery fluid. • thin or tasteless as a result of containing too much water: watery coffee. • weak; pale: watery sunshine. • (of a person's eyes ) full of or running with tears. DERIVATIVES wa ter i ness noun ORIGIN Old English wæterig (see water, -y 1 ).

Oxford Dictionary

water

water |ˈwɔːtə | ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 a colourless, transparent, odourless, liquid which forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms. • one of the four elements in ancient and medieval philosophy and in astrology (considered essential to the nature of the signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces ): [ as modifier ] : a water sign. • (usu. the waters ) the water of a mineral spring as used medicinally for bathing in or drinking: you can take the waters at the Pump Room. • [ with modifier ] a solution of a specified substance in water: ammonia water. Water is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen (chem. formula: H 2 O ) with highly distinctive physical and chemical properties: it is able to dissolve many other substances; its solid form (ice ) is less dense than the liquid form; its boiling point, viscosity, and surface tension are unusually high for its molecular weight, and it is partially dissociated into hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. 2 (the water ) a stretch or area of water, such as a river, sea, or lake: the lawns ran down to the water's edge. • the surface of an area of water: she ducked under the water. • [ as modifier ] found in, on, or near areas of water: a water plant. • (waters ) the water of a particular sea, river, or lake: the waters of Hudson Bay | figurative : the government are taking us into unknown waters with these changes in the legislation. • (waters ) an area of sea regarded as under the jurisdiction of a particular country: Japanese coastal waters. 3 urine: drinking alcohol will make you need to pass water more often. 4 (waters ) the amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb, especially as discharged in a flow shortly before birth: I think my waters have broken. 5 the quality of transparency and brilliance shown by a diamond or other gem. 6 Finance capital stock which represents a book value greater than the true assets of a company. ▶verb 1 [ with obj. ] pour or sprinkle water over (a plant or area ) in order to encourage plant growth: I went out to water the geraniums. • give a drink of water to (an animal ): they stopped to water the horses. • take a fresh supply of water on board (a ship or steam train ). 2 [ no obj. ] (of a person's eyes ) fill with tears: Rory blinked, his eyes watering. • (of a person's mouth ) produce saliva, typically in response to the sight or smell of appetizing food: the smell of frying bacon made Hilary's mouth water. 3 [ with obj. ] dilute or adulterate (a drink, typically an alcoholic one ) with water: staff at the club had been watering down the drinks. • (water something down ) make a statement or proposal less forceful or controversial by changing or leaving out certain details: the army's report of its investigation was considerably watered down. 4 (of a river ) flow through (an area of land ): the valley is watered by the River Dee. 5 Finance increase (a company's debt, or nominal capital ) by the issue of new shares without a corresponding addition to assets. PHRASES by water using a ship or boat for travel or transport: at the end of the lake was a small kiosk, accessible only by water. cast one's bread upon the waters see bread. like water in great quantities: George was spending money like water. make water (of a ship or boat ) take in water through a leak. of the first water (of a diamond or pearl ) of the greatest brilliance and transparency. • used to refer to a person or thing that is unsurpassed of their kind, typically in an undesirable way: she was a bore of the first water. under water submerged; flooded. the water of life whisky. water off a duck's back see duck 1. water on the brain informal hydrocephalus. water under the bridge (or N. Amer. water over the dam ) used to refer to events that are in the past and consequently no longer to be regarded as important. DERIVATIVES waterer noun, waterless adjective ORIGIN Old English wæter (noun ), wæterian (verb ), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch water, German Wasser, from an Indo-European root shared by Russian voda (compare with vodka ), also by Latin unda ‘wave ’ and Greek hudōr ‘water ’.

water arum

water bag

water bag ▶noun a bag made of leather, canvas, or other material, used for carrying water.

water bailiff

water bai |liff ▶noun Brit. 1 an official who enforces fishing laws. 2 historical a customs officer at a port.

water-based

water-based ▶adjective 1 (of a substance or solution ) using or having water as a medium or main ingredient: a water-based paint. 2 (of a sporting activity ) carried out on water.

water bath

water bath ▶noun Chemistry a container of water heated to a given temperature, used for heating substances placed in smaller containers.

water bear

water bear ▶noun a minute animal with a short plump body and four pairs of stubby legs, living in water or in the film of water on plants such as mosses. ●Phylum Tardigrada.

Water Bearer

Water Bearer (the Water Bearer ) the zodiacal sign or constellation Aquarius.

waterbed

water |bed |ˈwɔːtəbɛd | ▶noun a bed with a water-filled rubber or plastic mattress.

water beetle

water bee ¦tle ▶noun any of a large number of beetles that live in fresh water. ●Several families, in particular Dytiscidae (the predatory diving beetles ) and Hydrophilidae (scavenging beetles ).

waterbird

water |bird |ˈwɔːtəbəːd | ▶noun a bird that frequents water, especially one that habitually wades or swims in fresh water.

water birth

water birth ▶noun a birth in which the mother spends the final stages of labour in a birthing pool, with delivery taking place either in or out of the water.

water biscuit

water bis |cuit ▶noun a thin, crisp unsweetened biscuit made from flour and water.

water blinks

water blinks ▶noun see blinks.

waterblommetjie

waterblommetjie |ˈvɑːtə (r )ˌblɒməki | ▶noun ( pl. waterblommetjies ) South African term for water hawthorn. ORIGIN 1950s: Afrikaans, literally ‘little water flower ’.

water bloom

water bloom ▶noun another term for algal bloom.

waterboarding

waterboarding |ˈwɔːtəbɔːdɪŋ | ▶noun [ mass noun ] an interrogation technique simulating the experience of drowning, in which a person is strapped head downwards on a sloping board with the mouth and nose covered, while large quantities of water are poured over the face.

water boatman

water boat |man ▶noun 1 a predatory aquatic bug that swims on its back using its long back legs as oars. It is able to capture large prey such as tadpoles and fish. Also called backswimmer. ●Family Notonectidae, suborder Heteroptera: Notonecta and other genera. 2 an aquatic bug which spends much of its time on the bottom, using its front legs to sieve food from the water and its hair-fringed rear legs for swimming. ●Family Corixidae, suborder Heteroptera: Corixa, Sigara, and other genera.

waterbody

water |body |ˈwɔːtəbɒdi | ▶noun ( pl. waterbodies ) a body of water forming a physiographical feature, for example a sea or a reservoir.

water bomber

water bomb ¦er ▶noun an aircraft used for extinguishing forest fires by dropping water.

waterborne

water |borne |ˈwɔːtəbɔːn | ▶adjective conveyed by, travelling on, or involving travel or transport on water: troops were deployed by waterborne craft. • (of a disease ) communicated or propagated by contaminated water.

waterbrash

waterbuck

water |buck ▶noun a large African antelope occurring near rivers and lakes in the savannah. ●Kobus ellipsiprymnus, family Bovidae.

water buffalo

water buf |falo ▶noun a large black domesticated buffalo with heavy swept-back horns, used as a beast of burden throughout the tropics. ●Genus Bubalus, family Bovidae: the domesticated B. bubalis, descended from the wild B. arnee, which is confined to remote parts of India and SE Asia.

Waterbury

Wa ter bury |ˈwôtərˌberē, ˈwätər -ˈwɔtərbɛri | an industrial city in western Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, a historic brass-manufacturing center; pop. 107,037 (est. 2008 ).

water butt

water butt ▶noun a large barrel used for catching and storing rainwater.

water calla

water calla ▶noun another term for bog arum.

water cannon

water can ¦non ▶noun a device that ejects a powerful jet of water, typically used to disperse a crowd.

Water Carrier

Water Carrier (the Water Carrier ) the zodiacal sign or constellation Aquarius.

water chestnut

water chest |nut ▶noun 1 (also Chinese water chestnut ) the crisp, white-fleshed tuber of a tropical sedge, used in oriental cookery. 2 the sedge which yields the water chestnut, which is cultivated in flooded fields in SE Asia. ●Eleocharis tuberosa, family Cyperaceae. 3 (also water caltrop ) an aquatic plant with small white flowers, producing an edible rounded seed with two large projecting horns. ●Trapa natans, family Trapaceae.

water clock

water clock ▶noun historical a clock that used the flow of water to measure time.

water closet

water closet ▶noun dated a flush toilet. • a room containing a flush toilet.

watercock

water |cock ▶noun a brown and grey aquatic Asian rail, the male of which develops black plumage and a red frontal shield in the breeding season. ●Gallicrex cinerea, family Rallidae.

watercolour

watercolour |ˈwɔːtəkʌlə (r ) |(US watercolor ) ▶noun [ mass noun ] (also watercolours ) artists' paint made with a water-soluble binder such as gum arabic, and thinned with water rather than oil, giving a transparent colour. • [ count noun ] a picture painted with watercolours. • the art of painting with watercolours, especially using a technique of producing paler colours by diluting rather than by adding white. DERIVATIVES watercolourist noun

water-cooled

water-cooled ▶adjective (especially of a machine ) cooled by the circulation of water: a water-cooled reactor.

water cooler

water cool ¦er ▶noun a dispenser of cooled drinking water, typically used in places of work. • informal used to refer to the type of informal conversation among office workers that takes place around a water cooler: the subtleties of film noir haven't exactly been a hot topic around the water cooler | [ as modifier ] : water-cooler chat.

watercourse

water |course |ˈwɔːtəkɔːs | ▶noun a brook, stream, or artificially constructed water channel. • the bed along which a watercourse flows.

watercraft

water |craft |ˈwɔtəkraːft | ▶noun ( pl. same ) 1 a boat or other vessel that travels on water. 2 [ mass noun ] skill in sailing and other activities which take place on water.

watercress

water |cress |ˈwɔːtəkrɛs | ▶noun [ mass noun ] a Eurasian cress which grows in running water and whose pungent leaves are used in salad. ●Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum, family Cruciferae.

water cricket

water crowfoot

water crow |foot ▶noun see crowfoot.

water cure

water cure ▶noun chiefly historical a session of treatment by hydropathy.

water cycle

water cycle ▶noun the cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land, involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by evaporation and transpiration.

water deer

water deer (also Chinese water deer ) ▶noun a small deer without antlers, the male having a pair of tusk-like canine teeth, native to China and Korea. ●Hydropotes inermis, family Cervidae.

water diviner

water div |iner ▶noun Brit. a person who searches for underground water by using a dowsing rod.

waterdog

water |dog |ˈwɔːtədɒg | ▶noun an aquatic North American salamander which is a smaller relative of the mud puppy, typically living in flowing water. ●Genus Necturus, family Proteidae: several species.

water dropwort

water drum

watered silk

watered silk ▶noun [ mass noun ] silk that has been treated in such a way as to give it a wavy, lustrous finish.

waterfall

water |fall |ˈwɔːtəfɔːl | ▶noun a cascade of water falling from a height, formed when a river or stream flows over a precipice or steep incline.

water feature

water fea |ture ▶noun a pond or fountain in a garden.

water fern

water fern ▶noun 1 a small aquatic or semiaquatic fern which is either free-floating or anchored by the roots, found chiefly in tropical and warm countries. ●Families Azollaceae, Marsileaceae and Salviniaceae: many species, in particular the minute floating Azolla filiculoides of tropical America, which has been naturalized elsewhere. 2 an Australian fern with large coarse fronds, typically growing in marshy areas and rainforests. ●Genus Blechnum, family Blechnaceae: several species.

water flea

water flea ▶noun another term for daphnia.

Waterford

Water |ford |ˈwɔːtəfəd | a county in the south-east of the Republic of Ireland, in the province of Munster; main administrative centre, Dungarvan. • the county town of Waterford, a port on an inlet of St George's Channel; pop. 45,748 (2006 ).

Waterford glass

Water |ford glass |ˈwɔːtəfəd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] fine clear, colourless flint glassware first manufactured in Waterford in the 18th and 19th centuries.

waterfowl

water |fowl |ˈwɔːtəfaʊl | ▶plural noun ducks, geese, or other large aquatic birds, especially when regarded as game.

waterfowling

waterfowling ▶noun [ mass noun ] the practice or activity of hunting waterfowl. DERIVATIVES waterfowler noun

waterfront

water |front |ˈwɔːtəfrʌnt | ▶noun a part of a town that borders the sea or a lake or river.

water gap

wa ter gap ▶noun a transverse gap in a mountain ridge through which a stream or river flows.

water garden

water gar ¦den ▶noun a garden with pools or a stream, for growing aquatic plants.

water gas

water gas ▶noun [ mass noun ] a fuel gas consisting mainly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, made by passing steam over incandescent coke.

Watergate

Water |gate |ˈwɔːtəˌgeɪt | a US political scandal in which an attempt to bug the national headquarters of the Democratic Party (in the Watergate building in Washington DC ) led to the resignation of President Nixon (1974 ).

watergate

water |gate |ˈwɔːtəgeɪt | ▶noun a gate of a town or castle opening on to a lake, river, or sea.

water glass

water glass ▶noun 1 [ mass noun ] a solution of sodium or potassium silicate which solidifies on exposure to air, used for preserving eggs and hardening artificial stone. 2 a tube with a glass bottom, for observing beneath the surface of water.

water gun

water gun ▶noun N. Amer. a water pistol.

water hammer

water ham ¦mer ▶noun [ mass noun ] a knocking noise in a water pipe that occurs when a tap is turned off briskly.

water hawthorn

water heater

water heat ¦er ▶noun a device for heating domestic water.

water hemlock

water hem |lock ▶noun a highly poisonous European plant of the parsley family, which grows in ditches and marshy ground. Also called cowbane. ●Cicuta virosa, family Umbelliferae.

waterhen

water |hen ▶noun an aquatic rail, especially a moorhen or related bird. ●Genera Gallinula and Amaurornis, family Rallidae.

waterhole

water |hole |ˈwɔːtəhəʊl | ▶noun a depression in which water collects, especially one that is regularly drunk from by animals.

Waterhouse, Alfred

water hyacinth

water hya |cinth ▶noun [ mass noun ] a free-floating tropical American water plant which has been introduced elsewhere as an ornamental and in some warmer regions has become a serious weed of waterways. ●Eichhornia crassipes, family Pontederiaceae.

water ice

water ice ▶noun a dessert consisting of frozen fruit juice or flavoured water and sugar.

watering can

water |ing can ▶noun a portable water container with a long spout and a detachable perforated cap, used for watering plants.

watering hole

water |ing hole ▶noun a waterhole from which animals regularly drink. • informal a pub or bar.

watering place

water |ing place ▶noun a watering hole. • a spa or seaside resort.

water injection

water in |jec ¦tion ▶noun [ mass noun ] (in the oil industry ) the forcing of water into a reservoir formation, in particular as a technique of secondary recovery.

water jacket

water jacket ▶noun a casing containing water placed around something to protect it from extremes of temperature. DERIVATIVES water-jacketed adjective

water jump

water jump ▶noun an obstacle in a jumping competition or steeplechase, where a horse must jump over or into water.

water knot

water knot ▶noun a kind of knot used to join two fishing lines.

waterleaf

water |leaf ▶noun a North American woodland plant with bell-shaped flowers and leaves that appear to be stained with water. ●Genus Hydrophyllum, family Hydrophyllaceae.

water lettuce

water let |tuce ▶noun [ mass noun ] a tropical aquatic plant of the arum family which forms a floating rosette of leaves. ●Pistia stratiotes, family Araceae.

water level

water level ▶noun the height reached by the water in a reservoir, river, storage tank, or similar.

water lily

water lily ▶noun an ornamental aquatic plant with large round floating leaves and large, typically cup-shaped, floating flowers. ●Family Nymphaeaceae: several genera and many species, including the Eurasian white water lily (Nymphaea alba, with numerous cultivars ), and the widely distributed yellow water lily or brandy-bottle (Nuphar luteum ).

waterline

water |line |ˈwɔːtəlʌɪn | ▶noun 1 the level normally reached by the water on the side of a ship. • the level reached by the sea or a river visible as a line on a rock face, beach, or riverbank. • any of various structural lines of a ship, parallel with the surface of the water, representing the contour of the hull at various heights above the keel. 2 a linear watermark in paper.

waterlogged

water |logged |ˈwɔːtəlɒgd | ▶adjective saturated with or full of water: parts of the racecourse were waterlogged. ORIGIN mid 18th cent.: past participle of the verb waterlog ‘make (a ship ) unmanageable by flooding ’, from water + the verb log 1 .

Waterloo

Wa ter loo |ˌwôtərˈlo͞o, ˌwä -, ˈwôtərˌlo͞o, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərˌlu ˌwɔtərˈlu | 1 an industrial and commercial city in northeastern Iowa; pop. 66,662 (est. 2008 ). 2 see Austin 1.

Waterloo, Battle of

Waterloo, Battle of |ˌwɔːtəˈluː | a battle fought on 18 June 1815 near the village of Waterloo (in what is now Belgium ), in which Napoleon's army was defeated by the British (under the Duke of Wellington ) and Prussians. The allied pursuit caused Napoleon's army to disintegrate entirely, ending his bid to return to power. • (as noun a Waterloo ) a decisive defeat or failure: the coach rued the absence of his top player as his team met their Waterloo .

water main

water main ▶noun the main pipe in a water supply system.

waterman

water |man |ˈwɔːtəmən | ▶noun ( pl. watermen ) a boatman. • an oarsman who has attained a particular level of knowledge or skill.

watermark

water |mark |ˈwɔːtəmɑːk | ▶noun a faint design made in some paper during manufacture that is visible when held against the light and typically identifies the maker. ▶verb [ with obj. ] mark (paper ) with a watermark.

water mass

water mass ▶noun a large body of seawater that is distinguishable by its characteristic temperature and salinity range.

water meadow

water meadow ▶noun a meadow that is periodically flooded by a stream or river.

water measurer

water meas |urer ▶noun a long, thin aquatic bug which walks slowly on the surface film of water and spears small prey with its beak. ●Genus Hydrometra, family Hydrometridae, suborder Heteroptera: several species.

watermelon

water |melon |ˈwɔːtəmɛlən | ▶noun 1 the large melon-like fruit of a plant of the gourd family, with smooth green skin, red pulp, and watery juice. 2 the African plant which yields watermelons. ●Citrullus lanatus, family Cucurbitaceae.

water milfoil

water mil |foil ▶noun see milfoil ( sense 2 ).

watermill

water |mill |ˈwɔːtəmɪl | ▶noun a mill worked by a waterwheel.

water moccasin

water moc |ca ¦sin ▶noun another term for cottonmouth.

water mold

wa ter mold ▶noun any of a group of fungi-like organisms that live in water or soil, many of which are parasitic on plants. [Phlya Chytridiomycota and Oomycota, kingdom Protista. ]

water nymph

water nymph ▶noun (in folklore and classical mythology ) a nymph inhabiting or presiding over water, especially a naiad or nereid.

water of crystallization

water of crys ¦tal |liza ¦tion ▶noun [ mass noun ] Chemistry water molecules forming an essential part of the crystal structure of some compounds.

water opossum

water opos |sum ▶noun another term for yapok.

water ouzel

water ouzel ▶noun dialect term for dipper ( sense 1 ).

water parsnip

water pars |nip ▶noun a tall plant of the parsley family which lives in or near water. ●Sium latifolium and Berula erecta, family Umbelliferae.

water pepper

water pep ¦per ▶noun a widely distributed plant of the dock family which grows in wet ground, with peppery-tasting leaves and sap which is a skin irritant. ●Genus Polygonum, family Polygonaceae: several species, in particular P. hydropiper.

water pipe

water pipe ▶noun 1 a pipe for conveying water. 2 a pipe for smoking tobacco, cannabis, etc. , that draws the smoke through water to cool it.

water pipit

water pipit ▶noun a dark-coloured European pipit that frequents waterside habitats. ●Anthus spinoletta, family Motacillidae; formerly thought to be conspecific with the rock pipit.

water pistol

water pis ¦tol ▶noun a toy pistol that shoots a jet of water.

waterplane

waterplane |ˈwɔːtəplɛɪn | ▶noun the horizontal plane which passes through a floating ship on a level with the waterline.

water plantain

water plan |tain ▶noun an aquatic or marshland plant of north temperate regions, with leaves that resemble those of plantains and a tall stem bearing numerous pink flowers. ●Genus Alisma, family Alismataceae.

water polo

water polo ▶noun [ mass noun ] a seven-a-side game played by swimmers in a pool, with a ball like a football that is thrown into the opponents' net. The game developed in Britain from about 1870.

water power

water power ▶noun [ mass noun ] power that is derived from the weight or motion of water, used as a force to drive machinery. DERIVATIVES water-powered adjective

waterproof

water |proof |ˈwɔːtəpruːf | ▶adjective impervious to water: a waterproof hat. • not liable to be washed away by water: waterproof ink. ▶noun Brit. a garment, especially a coat, that keeps out water. ▶verb [ with obj. ] make impervious to water. DERIVATIVES waterproofer noun, waterproofness noun

water purslane

water purs |lane ▶noun a creeping Eurasian plant of damp places and bare ground. ●Lythrum portula, family Lythraceae.

water rail

water rail ▶noun a secretive Eurasian marshbird with dark grey and brown plumage, making loud grunts and squeals in the breeding season. ●Rallus aquaticus, family Rallidae.

water rat

water rat ▶noun a large semiaquatic rat-like rodent. ●Several genera in the family Muridae, in particular Hydromys of Australasia. • Brit. another term for water vole.

water rate

water rate ▶noun (usu. water rates ) a charge made for the use of a public water supply.

water-repellent

water-repellent ▶adjective not easily penetrated by water, especially as a result of being treated for such a purpose with a surface coating.

water-resistant

water-resist ¦ant ▶adjective able to resist the penetration of water to some degree but not entirely. DERIVATIVES water-resistance noun

water right

wa ter right ▶noun 1 [ usu. pl. ] the right to make use of the water from a stream, lake, or irrigation canal. 2 Nautical the right to navigate on particular waters.

Waters, Ethel

Waters, Muddy

Waters |ˈwɔːtəz | (1915 –83 ), American blues singer and guitarist; born McKinley Morganfield. Waters impressed new rhythm-and-blues bands such as the Rolling Stones, who took their name from his 1950 song.

waterscape

water |scape |ˈwɔːtəˌskeɪp | ▶noun a landscape in which an expanse of water is a dominant feature.

water scorpion

water scor |pion ▶noun a mainly tropical predatory water bug with grasping forelegs, breathing from the surface via a bristle-like ‘tail ’. ●Family Nepidae, suborder Heteroptera: several genera and species, including the European Nepa cinerea.

watershed

water |shed |ˈwɔːtəʃɛd | ▶noun 1 an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas. • an area or region drained by a river, river system, or other body of water. 2 an event or period marking a turning point in a situation: these works were a watershed in the history of music. • Brit. the time after which programmes that are regarded as unsuitable for children are broadcast on television. ORIGIN early 19th cent.: from water + shed in the sense ‘ridge of high ground ’ (related to shed 2 ), suggested by German Wasserscheide .

water shoot

water shoot ▶noun a vigorous but unproductive shoot from the trunk, main branch, or root of a tree.

water shrew

water shrew ▶noun a large semiaquatic shrew that preys on aquatic invertebrates. ●Four genera, family Soricidae: several species, in particular the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens ) and the American water shrew (Sorex palustris ).

waterside

water |side |ˈwɔːtəsʌɪd | ▶noun the edge of or area adjoining a sea, lake, or river.

watersider

watersider ▶noun Austral. /NZ a person employed to load and unload a ship's cargo.

waterski

water |ski |ˈwɔːtəskiː | ▶noun ( pl. waterskis ) each of a pair of skis enabling the wearer to skim the surface of the water when towed by a motor boat. ▶verb ( waterskis, waterskiing, waterskied ) [ no obj. ] skim the surface of water on waterskis. DERIVATIVES waterskier noun

water slide

water slide ▶noun a slide into a swimming pool, typically flowing with water and incorporating a number of twists and turns.

water snake

water snake ▶noun a harmless snake which is a powerful swimmer and spends part of its time in fresh water hunting for prey. Water snakes are found in Africa, Asia, and America. ●Natrix and other genera, family Colubridae: several species.

water softener

water soft |en ¦er ▶noun a device or substance that softens hard water by removing certain minerals.

water soldier

water sol |dier ▶noun an aquatic European plant with slender spiny-toothed leaves in submerged rosettes that rise to the surface at flowering time. ●Stratiotes aloides, family Hydrocharitaceae.

water-soluble

water-soluble ▶adjective able to be dissolved in water: the paint is water-soluble | water-soluble vitamins.

water spider

water spider ▶noun a semiaquatic spider. ●Several species, including the European Argyroneta aquatica (family Argyronetidae ), which lives in an underwater dome of silk filled with air. See also raft spider .

water splash

water splash ▶noun Brit. a water-filled dip in a road.

water sports

water sports ▶plural noun 1 sports that are carried out on water, such as waterskiing and windsurfing. 2 informal sexual activity involving urination.

waterspout

water |spout |ˈwɔːtəspaʊt | ▶noun a rotating column of water and spray formed by a whirlwind occurring over the sea or other body of water.

water starwort

water star |wort ▶noun a widely distributed slender-leaved plant which grows in water or on mud and is sometimes used in aquaria. ●Genus Callitriche, family Callitrichaceae.

water stick insect

water stone

water stone ▶noun a whetstone used with water rather than oil.

water strider

water strider ▶noun North American term for pond skater and water cricket.

water table

water table ▶noun the level below which the ground is saturated with water.

water taxi

water taxi ▶noun a small motor boat for transporting paying passengers on rivers, canals, etc.

waterthrush

water |thrush |ˈwɔːtəθrʌʃ | ▶noun a thrush-like North American warbler related to the ovenbird, found near woodland streams and swamps. ●Genus Seiurus, family Parulidae: two species.

watertight

water |tight |ˈwɔːtətʌɪt | ▶adjective 1 closely sealed, fastened, or fitted so that no water enters or passes through: a watertight compartment. 2 (of an argument or account ) unable to be disputed or questioned: their alibis are watertight.

watertight compartment

wa ter tight com part ment ▶noun any of the sections with intervening watertight partitions into which the interior of a large ship is now usually divided for safety.

water torture

water tor |ture ▶noun [ mass noun ] a form of torture in which the victim is exposed to the incessant dripping of water on the head or to the sound of dripping.

water tower

water tower ▶noun a tower supporting an elevated water tank, whose height creates the pressure required to distribute the water through a piped system.

Watertown

water-tube boiler

water-vascular system

water-vascular system ▶noun Zoology (in an echinoderm ) a network of water vessels in the body, the tube feet being operated by hydraulic pressure within the vessels.

Waterville

Wa ter ville |ˈwôtərvil, ˈwä -ˈwɔtərvɪl | a commercial city in south central Maine, on the Kennebec River; pop. 16,016 (est. 2008 ).

water violet

water vio ¦let ▶noun an aquatic plant of the primrose family, with lilac flowers and finely divided submerged leaves. ●Hottonia palustris, family Primulaceae.

water vole

waterway

water |way |ˈwɔːtəweɪ | ▶noun 1 a river, canal, or other route for travel by water. 2 a channel at the outer edge of a deck of a boat that allows water to run off.

waterweed

water |weed |ˈwɔːtəwiːd | ▶noun [ mass noun ] 1 any aquatic plant with inconspicuous flowers. 2 a submerged aquatic American plant which is grown in ornamental ponds. ●Genus Elodea, family Hydrocharitaceae: several species, in particular Canadian pondweed.

waterwheel

water |wheel |ˈwɔːtəwiːl | ▶noun a large wheel driven by flowing water, used to work machinery or to raise water to a higher level.

water wings

water wings ▶plural noun inflated floats that may be fixed to the arms of someone learning to swim to give increased buoyancy.

water witch

water witch (also water-witcher ) ▶noun US a water diviner. DERIVATIVES water-witching noun

waterworks

water |works |ˈwɔːtəwəːks | ▶plural noun 1 [ treated as sing. ] an establishment for managing a water supply. 2 informal used to refer to the shedding of tears: she is an expert at turning on the waterworks to manipulate others. • Brit. used as a humorous euphemism for the urinary system.

watery

watery |ˈwɔːt (ə )ri | ▶adjective consisting of, containing, or resembling water: a watery fluid. • (of a person's eyes ) full of tears. • thin or tasteless as a result of containing too much water: watery coffee. • pale or weak, as if diluted by water: watery sunshine. DERIVATIVES wateriness noun ORIGIN Old English wæterig (see water, -y 1 ).

American Oxford Thesaurus

water

water noun 1 a glass of water: H 2 O; dated Adam's ale. 2 a house down by the water: sea, ocean; lake, river; drink. ▶verb 1 water the plants: sprinkle, moisten, dampen, wet, spray, splash; soak, douse, souse, drench, saturate; hose (down ). 2 my mouth watered: moisten, become wet, salivate; informal drool. PHRASES hold water your story just doesn't hold water: be tenable, ring true, bear scrutiny, make sense, stand up, hold up, be convincing, be plausible, be sound. water down 1 staff had watered down the drinks: dilute, thin (out ), weaken; adulterate, doctor, mix; informal cut. 2 the proposals were watered down: moderate, temper, mitigate, tone down, soften, tame; understate, play down, soft-pedal. WORD LINKS aqueous relating to or containing water aqua-, hydro- forming words meaning ‘relating to water, ’ such as aqualung (‘an apparatus enabling divers to breathe under water ’) or hydroelectric (‘relating to the generation of electricity using flowing water ’)Word Links sections supply words that are related to the headword but do not normally appear in a thesaurus because they are not actual synonyms.

waterfall

waterfall noun a family of otters was frolicking in the waterfall: cascade, cataract, falls, chute.

waterfront

waterfront noun the homes along the waterfront are quite stately: shore, lakefront, lakeshore, harborfront, riverfront, riverside, esplanade, docks, quay, beach, foreshore, shoreline, embankment.

waterlogged

waterlogged adjective the floorboards are waterlogged: saturated, sodden, soaked, soggy, wet through.

waterproof

waterproof adjective a waterproof jacket: watertight, water-repellent, water-resistant, weathertight, rainproof, impermeable, impervious; rubberized, waxed.

watershed

watershed noun 1 the Mackenzie River watershed: divide. 2 a watershed in the party's history: turning point, milestone, landmark.

watertight

watertight adjective 1 a watertight container: impermeable, impervious, (hermetically ) sealed; waterproof, water-repellent, water-resistant. ANTONYMS leaky. 2 a watertight alibi: indisputable, unquestionable, incontrovertible, irrefutable, unassailable, impregnable; foolproof, sound, flawless, airtight, bulletproof, conclusive. ANTONYMS flawed.

waterway

waterway noun environmental measures to clean up these waterways: channel, water route, watercourse, canal, river, seaway.

watery

watery adjective 1 a watery discharge: liquid, fluid, aqueous; technical hydrous. ANTONYMS solid, thick. 2 a watery meadow: wet, damp, moist, sodden, soggy, squelchy, slushy, soft; saturated, waterlogged; boggy, marshy, swampy, miry, muddy. ANTONYMS dry. 3 watery soup: thin, runny, weak, sloppy, dilute, diluted; tasteless, flavorless, insipid, bland. ANTONYMS thick, hearty. 4 the light was watery and gray: pale, wan, faint, weak, feeble; informal wishy-washy, washy. ANTONYMS bright. 5 watery eyes: tearful, teary, weepy, moist, rheumy; formal lachrymose. ANTONYMS dry. WORD TOOLKIT See runny . Word Toolkits illustrate the difference between close synonyms by means of words typically used with them.

Oxford Thesaurus

water

water noun 1 a glass of water: Latin aqua; technical H 2 O; rare Adam's ale. 2 he had a house down by the water: sea, ocean; lake, loch, pond, pool, reservoir; river. ANTONYMS land. PHRASES get into hot /deep water informal whenever we spoke out, we got into hot water: be severely reprimanded, be upbraided, be scolded, get a scolding, be admonished, be castigated, be rebuked, be chastised, be censured, be criticized severely, be taken to task, get into trouble, be hauled over the coals; informal catch it, get what for, be told off, get hell, get into shtook, get a dressing-down, get an earful, get a roasting, get a rocket, get a rollicking, get a rap over the knuckles, get a slap on the wrist. hold water there are times when this theory just does not hold water: be tenable, ring true, bear examination /scrutiny, survive investigation, make sense, work out, stand up, hold up, be convincing, be plausible, be verifiable, be provable, be sound. ANTONYMS fall down. ▶verb 1 he told me to water the plants: sprinkle, moisten, dampen, wet, spray, splash; soak, douse, souse, drench, saturate, flood, waterlog; hose (down ), water down; archaic sodden. ANTONYMS dry out, parch. 2 Ralph's eyes were watering | my mouth watered as I looked at the strawberries: moisten, exude water, become wet, leak; cry, weep; salivate. 3 he was accused of watering the claret. See water something down (sense 1 ). PHRASES water something down 1 staff at the club had watered down the drinks: dilute, add water to, water, thin (out ), make thin /thinner, weaken, make weak /weaker; adulterate, doctor, taint, mix; informal cut. 2 in the end the proposals were considerably watered down: moderate, temper, qualify, mitigate, mute, mellow, tone down, soften; subdue, curb, tame, calm, bridle; understate, underemphasize, play down, soft-pedal, downplay. ANTONYMS enhance, strengthen. WORD LINKS water aqueous relating to water aqua- related prefix, as in aquaculture hydro- related prefix, as in hydroelectric hydrophobia fear of water Word Links sections supply words that are related to the headword but do not normally appear in a thesaurus because they are not actual synonyms.

waterfall

waterfall noun cascade, cataract, shower, torrent, outpouring, white water, chute; falls, rapids; N. English force; Scottish archaic linn.

waterproof

waterproof adjective a warm waterproof jacket: watertight, water-repellent, water-resistant, weatherproof; damp-proof; impermeable, impervious; coated, proofed, rubberized, waxed. ANTONYMS leaky. ▶noun Brit. she put on boots and a waterproof: raincoat, anorak, mackintosh, sou'wester, oilskin, cagoule, cape; Brit. informal mac.

watertight

watertight adjective 1 a watertight container: waterproof, water-repellent, water-resistant, weatherproof; damp-proof; impermeable, impervious, sealed, hermetically sealed, coated, proofed, rubberized. ANTONYMS leaky. 2 Sam had arranged a watertight alibi: indisputable, unquestionable, incontrovertible, undeniable, irrefutable, unassailable, impregnable, beyond dispute, beyond question, beyond doubt, indubitable; foolproof, sound, flawless, airtight, conclusive, perfect, without loopholes. ANTONYMS flawed.

watery

watery adjective 1 the patient's nose may be streaming with a watery discharge: liquid, fluid, liquefied; technical aqueous, hydrous. ANTONYMS solid. 2 a watery meadow: wet, damp, moist, sodden, soggy, squelchy, soft; saturated, waterlogged; marshy, boggy, swampy, fenny, miry, muddy, oozy. ANTONYMS dry. 3 a bowl of watery porridge: thin, runny, weak, sloppy, dilute, diluted, watered down, thinned down, adulterated; tasteless, flavourless, insipid, bland; informal wishy-washy. ANTONYMS thick, concentrated. 4 the light was watery and grey: pale, wan, thin, faint, weak, feeble, washed out, anaemic, colourless, insipid; informal wishy-washy. ANTONYMS bright. 5 she dabbed at a watery eye: tearful, teary, weeping, weepy, moist, rheumy, dewy-eyed; formal lachrymose. ANTONYMS dry. WORD TOOLKIT watery See runny . Word Toolkits illustrate the difference between close synonyms by means of words typically used with them.

Duden Dictionary

Waterbike

Wa ter bi ke Substantiv, Neutrum , das |ˈwɔːtɐba͜ik |das Waterbike; Genitiv: des Waterbikes, Plural: die Waterbikes englisch waterbike, aus: water = Wasser und bike, Bike Wassermotorrad

Waterboarding

Wa ter boar ding Substantiv, Neutrum , das |ˈwɔːtɐbɔːdɪŋ |das Waterboarding; Genitiv: des Waterboardings Scheinertränken als Foltermethode

Watergate

Wa ter gate Substantiv, Neutrum , das |ˈwɔːtəgeɪt |das Watergate; Genitiv: des Watergate [s ], Plural: die Watergates nach dem Watergatehotel in Washington politischer Skandal größten Ausmaßes

Waterkant

Wa ter kant Substantiv, feminin scherzhaft , die |W a terkant |die Waterkant; Genitiv: der Waterkant niederdeutsch = Wasserkante norddeutsches Küstengebiet; Nordseeküste

Waterloo

Wa ter loo Substantiv, Neutrum bildungssprachlich , das |W a terloo |das Waterloo; Genitiv: des Waterloo, Plural: die Waterloos nach der Schlacht bei Waterloo (18. 6. 1815 ), in der Napoleon I. vernichtend geschlagen wurde vernichtende Niederlage ein, sein Waterloo erleben

waterproof

wa ter proof Adjektiv Fachsprache |ˈwɔːtɐpruːf |indeklinables Adjektiv englisch waterproof, aus: water = Wasser und proof = dicht, undurchlässig wasserdicht Hinweis in Geweben und auf Uhren

Waterproof

Wa ter proof Substantiv, maskulin , der |Waterproof |englisch waterproof, zu: waterproof, waterproof 1 wasserdichter Stoff 2 wasserdichter Regenmantel

waterresistant

wa ter re sis tant Adjektiv |wɔːtəriˈzɪstənt |indeklinables Adjektiv englisch water-resistant, aus: water = Wasser und resistant = widerstandsfähig wasserdicht Hinweis auf Uhren als Qualitätsmerkmal, oft in Verbindung mit Angabe der Wassertiefe, bis zu der dies gilt

French Dictionary

water-closet(s)

water-closet (s ) ou waters n. m. pl. nom masculin pluriel Abréviation W.-C. (s ’écrit avec des points ). Toilettes.

water-polo

water-polo ou waterpolo n. m. (pl. water-polos ou waterpolos ) nom masculin Sport d ’équipe qui se joue dans l ’eau. Prononciation Le w se prononce w, [watɛrpɔlo ]

waterproof

waterproof FORME FAUTIVE Anglicisme pour imperméable, à l ’épreuve de l ’eau.

Spanish Dictionary

wáter

wáter (también váter )nombre masculino 1 Recipiente en forma de taza, generalmente de porcelana o loza esmaltada, que sirve para orinar y evacuar el vientre en postura sentada; está provisto de una cisterna con agua para limpiarlo después de su uso y está conectado a una tubería de desagüe que se comunica con las cloacas .SINÓNIMO inodoro, retrete, WC .2 Habitación de una vivienda o un establecimiento en la que está instalado este recipiente así como otros elementos que sirven para el aseo personal, como el lavabo, el plato de ducha, la bañera, etc. :pasé la noche yendo y viniendo al water porque se me descompuso el vientre .SINÓNIMO servicio .Se pronuncia aproximadamente ‘váter ’ o ‘uáter ’.El plural es wáteres o wáter .

waterpolista

waterpolista nombre común Persona que practica el waterpolo :los waterpolistas españoles lograron el primer puesto en el mundial de natación .Se pronuncia aproximadamente ‘uaterpolista ’.

waterpolo

waterpolo nombre masculino Deporte que se practica en una piscina y en el que se enfrentan dos equipos de siete nadadores que tratan de introducir un balón en el arco contrario lanzándolo con las manos; vence el equipo que consigue más goles en los 20 minutos que dura el juego, divididos en cuatro partes iguales :los jugadores de waterpolo llevan gorros numerados .Se pronuncia aproximadamente ‘uaterpolo ’.

Sanseido Wisdom Dictionary

water

wa ter /wɔ́ːtə r , ｟米｠wɑ́t -/〖語源は「波」〗名詞複～s /-z /1 U (液体生活水としての )水 , 飲料水 ; お湯 ; 〖the ～〗水道 (水 )(tap water ); 〖the ～s 〗硬水 , 硬泉 , 湧き水 ▸ drink a glass of [a lot of ] water コップ1杯 [たくさん ]の水を飲む (!waterは U なので ╳a waterや ╳many watersとしない; 容器を示さないときはget a drink of water (水を飲む ) ▸ turn on [off ] the water (水道の )水を出す [止める ]▸ To melt the ice, use hot water .氷を解かすには湯を使いなさい (!文脈から明らかなときはhotは省略される:The (hot ) water is not hot enough. お湯がぬるい ) ▸ boiling [steaming ] water 熱湯 [沸き立った湯 ]▸ The village has no running water .その村には水道が引かれていない ▸ The planet might have liquid water on its surface .その星には表面に (液体の )水があるかもしれない (!ほかの状態の水と区別する言い方 ) ▸ Scotch [whisky ] and water スコッチ [ウイスキー ]の水割り ▸ a catastrophic water shortage 壊滅的な水不足コーパスの窓いろいろな水, ウォーター ▸ drinking ～飲み水 ▸ sparkling [carbonated ] ～炭酸水, ソーダ水 ▸ cold [warm ] ～冷水 [温水 ]▸ fresh ～淡水, 真水 (!「新鮮な水」の意にもなる ) ▸ soft [hard ] ～軟 [硬 ]水 ▸ salt ～塩水 ; 海水 (!料理などではしばしばsalted ～を用いる ) ▸ mineral ～ミネラルウォーター ▸ muddy ～泥水 ▸ ice ～氷水 ▸ soapy ～石けん水 ▸ sea ～海水 ▸ clear [stagnant ] ～澄んだ [よどんだ ]水 ▸ tap ～水道水 2 U C (陸空に対して )水 (圏 ); 〖時に (the ) ～s 〗海 , 川 , 湖 ; 〖通例 (the ) ～s 〗大量の水 ; 流水 , 洪水 ▸ Most of the earth's surface is covered by water .地球の表面の大半は水で覆われている ▸ fall into the water 川 [海, 池 ]に落ちる ▸ The sun set over the water .太陽が海の向こうに沈んだ ▸ Ducks can live in icy waters .カモは氷の張った湖でも生きていける ▸ the calm [rough ] water (s )静かな [荒れた ]海 ▸ This mammal lives in deep [shallow ] water (s ).この哺乳動物は深い [浅い ]海に住んでいる ▸ the flood water (s )洪水 ▸ Still waters run deep .｟ことわざ｠思慮深い人はあまりしゃべらない ; 「能あるタカはつめを隠す」3 〖～s 〗(特定の )水域 , 海域 , 領海 , 近海 ▸ in Arctic [Canadian ] waters 北極海域 [カナダ水域 ]で ▸ a violation of territorial waters 領海侵犯 ▸ international waters 公海 4 U 水面 , 水位 ; 水深 ▸ Some insects can walk on water .一部の昆虫は水面を歩くことができる ▸ We lay back in the water and floated .私たちは水面に体を横たえて漂った ▸ keep one's head above the water 顔を水面の上に出しておく ▸ in 2,000 feet of water 水深2,000フィートの所で 5 U 〖通例～s 〗(困難な )状況 , (苦しい )立場 ▸ be in uncharted [murky ] waters 苦境に立たされている ▸ be in deep water (s )苦しい立場にある 6 U 溶液 (solution ); 水状液 ▸ rose water バラ香水 ▸ ammonia water アンモニア水 7 U 体から出る液 , 分泌液 , 体液〘涙, 汗, つば, 尿, 血清など〙; 〖～s 〗羊水 ▸ The smell filled Nicole's mouth with water .そのにおいでニコルの口はつばでいっぱいになった ▸ I couldn't hold my water .私は小便をがまんできなかった ▸ water on the brain 脳水腫（しゆ）▸ one's waters break (妊婦が )破水する 8 U (宝石の光沢透明度による )品質 , 品位 , 純度 ; (人の )優秀性 , 能力度 ▸ a diamond [craftsman ] of the first water とびきりのダイヤ [職人 ]9 U (船などの穴から )漏れて侵入する水 (leakage ), 浸水 .10 U 〘経〙水増し株 (の発行 ).11 C (織物などの )波模様 .A l ò t of w á ter has g ò ne [p à ssed, fl ò wed ] under the br í dge (since …)(…以来 )時間が過ぎて事態が変わった .be (all ) w à ter under the br í dge ｟話｠過ぎてしまったことだ, 嘆いても仕方のないことだ .be d è ad in the w á ter 1 〈人計画事業などが〉成功の望みがない, 完全に失敗している .2 〈船が〉動けない .bl ò w A out of the w á ter ｟くだけてしばしば報道｠1 A 〈敵組織〉を完全に滅ぼす ; A 〈事業など〉を完全にだめにする .2 A 〈計画考えなど〉がうまくゆかない [うそである ]ことを示す .by w á ter ｟かたく｠船で, 海路で .f í sh in tr ò ubled w á ters 漁夫の利を占める, どさくさに紛れて得をする .h ò ld w á ter 1 ｟くだけて｠〈理論理屈が〉筋が通っている, うまく行く (!通例否定文で ) .2 ↑名詞 7 .in [into ] h ò t w á ter (s )｟くだけて｠難しい立場で ▸ be in [get into ] hot water 困ったことになる like w á ter ｟くだけて｠大量に, 惜しげなく〈使うなど〉.m à ke w á ter 1 〈船が〉浸水する .2 ＝pass water .on the w á ter 水上 [海上 ]に [で ]; 船で .p à ss w á ter ｟かたくやや古遠回しに｠小便する, 排尿する (urinate ).t è st the w á ter (s )1 水質検査をする .2 (頼みごと販売をする前に )前もって相手の意向を打診する .thr ò w [p ò ur ] c ò ld w á ter on [over ] A A 〈計画など〉に水を差す, けちをつける .tr è ad w á ter 1 立ち泳ぎをする .2 〈事業人などが〉順調に発展しない (!しばしば進行形で ) .under w á ter 水中に ; 浸水 [冠水 ]して .動詞～s /-z /; ～ed /-d /; ～ing /-t (ə )rɪŋ /他動詞 1 〈土地植物〉に水をやる [まく ], …を潤（うるお）す , 濡（ぬ）らす ▸ water the flowers 花に水をやる 2 〈動物〉に水を飲ませる ; ｟おどけて｠〈人〉に飲み物をふるまう ▸ water the horses 馬に水をやる 3 ｟かたく｠〈川などが〉〈田畑など〉に水を供給する , …を灌漑（かんがい）する (irrigate ); 〈船など〉に給水する (!しばしば受け身で ) ▸ The valley was watered by the river coming down from the mountains .その谷間は山から流れ下る川によって水を供給されていた 4 〈酒など〉を水で薄める , 水で割る .5 〘経〙〈資本など〉を水増しする .6 〈織物など〉に波模様を付ける .自動詞 1 (何らかの刺激で )〈目が〉涙を出す , うるむ ; 〈口が〉つば [よだれ ]を出す ▸ I sneezed and my eyes watered .くしゃみの上に目に涙も出てきた ▸ The smell makes my mouth water .そのにおいをかぐと (食べたくて )つばが出てくるよ 2 〈動物が〉水を飲む .3 〈船などが〉給水を受ける .w à ter A d ó wn [d ó wn A ](→watered-down )1 ｟けなして｠A 〈演説原稿批判〉の論調を和らげる ; A 〈改革など〉を骨抜きにする (!通例受け身で ) .2 (不正に )A 〈酒〉を水で薄める .3 A 〈スープなど〉を薄める .W -́ B è arer [C à rrier ]〖the ～〗〘天占星〙＝Aquarius .～́ b ì ll 水道料金 (請求書 ).～́ b ì rd 水鳥 .～́ b ì scuit ｟英｠ウォータービスケット〘甘みがなくバターやチーズを添えて食べる〙.～́ bl ì ster 水ぶくれ .～́ b ò ttle 1 水筒 (｟米｠canteen ).2 (水質検査用の )採水びん .～́ b ò y ｟米｠(運動クラブなどの )給水係 ; 雑用係 .～́ br è aking (妊婦の )破水 .～́ b ù ffalo 水牛 .～́ b ù g ｟米くだけて｠水中生物 .～́ b ù tt ｟英｠(雨水用 )天水おけ (｟米｠rain barrel ).～́ c à nnon (デモ隊を散らす )高圧放水砲 .～́ ch è stnut 〘植〙ヒシ〘しばしば中華料理に用いる〙.～́ cl ò set ｟やや古｠便所 (｟略｠WC ).～́ c ò mpany 水道会社 .～́ c ò oler (飲料水用の )冷水器 ; (会社内の )社交場 .～̀ c ò oler g ó ssip (冷水器の周りでの )うわさ話, 井戸端会議 .～́ f è ature ウォーターフィーチャー〘庭に作る池小川など〙.～́ f ò untain ｟米｠(飲料水用の )給水器 (｟英｠drinking fountain ).～́ g à te 水門 .～́ g ù n ｟米｠水鉄砲 (｟英｠water pistol ).～́ h à zard 〘ゴルフ〙ウォーターハザード .～́ h è ater 温水器 .～́ h ò le 水たまり ; (砂漠の )水飲み場 ; 氷面の穴 .～́ ì ce 1 ｟英｠＝sorbet .2 (ほかの物質の固体と区別して )氷 .～́ ing c à n じょうろ .～́ ing h ò le 1 ＝water hole .2 バー, 飲み屋 .～́ j ù mp (障害物競馬競走の )水濠（ごう）.～́ l è vel 水位 ; 喫水（きっすい）線 .～́ l ì ly 〘植〙スイレン .～́ m à in (建物などの )給水本管 .～́ m è adow (川の近くでしばしば冠水する )牧草地 .～́ m è ter 水道メーター .～́ m ì ll 水車小屋 .～́ m ò ccasin 〘動〙1 ヌママムシ〘米南部の湿地にすむ大型毒ヘビ〙.2 ＝water snake .～́ p ì pe 1 水道管 .2 水ぎせる .～́ p ì stol ｟英｠＝water gun .～́ pl à nt 水生植物, 水草 ; 浄水設備 .～́ poll ù tion 水質汚染 .～́ p ò lo 〘スポーツ〙水球 .～́ p ò wer 水力 .～́ qu à lity 水質 .～́ r à t ＝water vole .～́ sl ì de ウォータースライド .～́ sn à ke 〘動〙ミズヘビ〘無毒〙.～́ s ò ftener 軟水化装置 ; 硬水軟化剤 .～́ sp ò rts 水上スポーツ .～́ suppl ỳ 1 (システムとしての )水道, 上水 ; 給水 ▸ turn off the water supply 水道の元栓を止める (!「(水道の )水を止める」はturn off the waterでよい ) 2 水道水 (service water ).～́ t à ble 〖単数形で〗〘土木〙地下水面 .～́ t à nk 水槽 .～́ t ò wer 給水塔 .～́ v à por (ほかの物質の気体と区別して )水蒸気 .～́ v ò le 〘動〙(水辺にすむ )ミズハタネズミ .～́ w ì ngs ｟やや古｠〖複数扱い〗(水泳習得用の )両腕用浮き袋 .

waterbed

w á ter b è d 名詞 C 1 ウォーターベッド .2 水分の多い土壌 .

waterborne

w á ter b ò rne 形容詞〖名詞の前で〗1 水で伝染する, 水を媒介とする〈病気など〉.2 水上輸送の .3 水上に浮かぶ .

watercolor

w á ter c ò lor ｟英｠-c ò lour 名詞 1 C 〖通例～s; 材料としては U 〗水彩絵の具 (→oil 名詞 5 ).2 C 水彩画 (watercolo (u )r painting ); U 水彩画法 .

water-cooled

w á ter-c ò oled 形容詞水冷式の .

watercourse

w á ter c ò urse 名詞｟かたく｠C 1 水流 ; 川床 ; 水路, 運河 ; (小 )川 ; 地下水脈 .2 〘法〙流水権 .

watercraft

w á ter cr à ft 名詞 1 C 船 ; 〖集合的に〗船舶 .2 U 水上競技の技術 ; 操船術 .

watercress

w á ter cr è ss 名詞 U 〘植〙クレソン, オランダガラシ, ミズガラシ〘葉が辛くスープサラダに用いる〙.

watered-down

w à tered-d ó wn 形容詞 1 〈提案声明計画などが〉 (以前のものより )弱まった, 力のない .2 〈酒などが〉水で薄められた, 水で割った .

waterfall

wa ter fall /wɔ́ːtə r fɔ̀ːl , ｟米｠wɑ́t -/〖water (水の )fall (落下 )〗名詞 C 1 滝 (→cascade , cataract , fall ).2 (女性の )後ろに垂らした髪型 .3 殺到 .

waterfowl

w á ter f ò wl 名詞複～C U 水鳥, 水辺の鳥 (!カモアヒルガチョウ白鳥など; 一羽一羽はwater bird ) .

waterfront

w á ter fr ò nt 名詞 C 〖通例単数形で〗海岸沿いの土地 [通り ]; 河岸（かし）; 港町 .

Watergate

W á ter g à te 名詞 1 ウォーターゲート事件〘1972年米国の政治疑獄; 1974年Nixon大統領が辞任に追い込まれた〙.2 〖時にw -〗政治的スキャンダル .3 〖w- 〗＝water gate .動詞他動詞〈政治的腐敗〉を暴く .

wateriness

w á ter i ness 名詞 U 水の多さ ; (食物などの )水っぽさ, 味のなさ ; (文体などの )おもしろ味のなさ .

waterless

w á ter less 形容詞水のない ; (料理などで )水のいらない ; 空冷 (式 )の .

water(-)logged

w á ter (-)l ò gged 形容詞 1 〈土地などが〉冠水した, 水浸しの .2 〈船などが〉浸水した, 沈没寸前の .

Waterloo

Wa ter loo /wɔ̀ːtə r lúː, -́--̀ /名詞 1 ワーテルロー〘ベルギー中部Brussels南方の村; 1815年6月18日ナポレオンがWellington指揮の連合軍に大敗した所〙.2 C 〖単数形で〗(異例な成功の後の )大敗北, 惨敗 .m è et one's W á terloo [w á terloo ]大敗を喫する .

watermark

w á ter m à rk 名詞 C 1 (紙紙幣などの )すかし (模様 ).2 (湖川などの )水位標 ; 水位線 .h ì gh w á termark 1 高潮線, 高水位線 .2 繁栄 (時代 ), 全盛期 ; 大成功 .l ò w w á termark 1 干潮線, 低水位線 .2 不振 (時代 ), どん底 ; 大失敗 .

watermelon

w á ter m è lon 名詞 C 〖材料としては不可算〗スイカ .sw à llow a w á termelon s è ed ｟米くだけて｠妊娠する, はらむ .

watermill

w á ter m ì ll 名詞＝water mill .

waterpower

w á ter p ò wer 名詞 U 水力 .

waterproof

wa ter proof /wɔ́ːtə r prùːf , ｟米｠wɑ́t -/形容詞通例比較なし〈衣服素材などが〉防水 (加工 )の , 耐水性の ; 防水用の ▸ a waterproof watch 防水の時計名詞複～s 1 C ｟英｠〖通例～s 〗防水 (加工 )の衣服 ; 雨合羽 , レインコート .2 U 防水布 .動詞他動詞〈衣服船体〉を防水加工する .～ing 名詞 U 防水剤 ; 防水加工 .

water-repellent

w à ter-rep é llent 形容詞〈布服などが〉 (化学物質などにより )水をはじく, 撥水（はっすい）性のある (showerproof ).

water-resistant

w à ter-res í stant 形容詞 (完全防水ではないが )耐水の .

watershed

w á ter sh è d 名詞 C 1 〖通例単数形で〗【歴史人生などの】転機, 変革期, 分岐点 (turning point ) «in » .2 ｟英｠〖通例the (9 o'clock ) ～〗(午後9時の )テレビ放送転換点〘この時間以前は性や暴力などの映像を控える〙.3 〘地〙分水界 [嶺 ] 〘川の流れを分ける高い土地〙.

waterside

w á ter s ì de 名詞〖単数形で〗(湖や川などの )水辺, 岸辺, 水際 .形容詞〈建物などが〉水辺 [岸辺 ]の, 水際の .

water-ski

w á ter-sk ì 動詞自動詞水上スキーをする .～er 名詞

water-skiing

w á ter-sk ì ing 名詞 U 水上スキー .

water-soluble

w á ter-s ò luble 形容詞水溶性の, 水に溶ける .

waterspout

w á ter sp ò ut 名詞 C 1 (海上湖上の )竜巻 .2 排水管 ; (雨どいの )樋口（ひぐち）.3 豪雨, どしゃ降り .

watertight

w á ter t ì ght 形容詞 1 〈物が〉水を通さない, 防水の .2 〈計画状況主張などが〉水も漏らさぬ, つけ入る隙のない .

waterway

w á ter w à y 名詞複～s C 1 (船が通る )水路 ; 運河 ; 航路 .2 (甲板の )排水溝 .

water(-)wheel

w á ter (-)wh è el 名詞 C 水車 ; 揚水機 ; (バケツ付きの )揚水車 .

waterworks

w á ter w ò rks 名詞複～1 〖単複両扱い〗水道 [給水 ]設備 .2 〖単数扱い〗浄水場, 給水所 .3 ｟くだけて /おどけて｠〖複数扱い〗泌尿器 .turn ò n the w á terworks ｟話｠(同情を得るために )泣き出す, 涙腺（るいせん）を緩める .

watery

wa ter y /wɔ́ːt (ə )ri , ｟米｠wɑ́t -/形容詞 -ier ; -iest 1 水の (ような ); 水に関した .2 〈土土地などが〉湿った , じめじめした ; 水気の多い〈食物など〉.3 〈空月雲などが〉雨模様の .4 涙ぐんだ〈目〉; 涙ながらの , 悲しい .5 〖通例名詞の前で〗色の薄い , 淡い〈光〉, 弱々しい〈笑み〉(feeble ).6 ｟否定的に｠〖通例名詞の前で〗水っぽい , 味の薄い〈スープ飲み物〉.7 〈文章会話などが〉気の抜けた , おもしろ味のない .8 水中の .9 (病気などで )分泌液を出す .～̀ d é pths ｟文｠〖the ～〗水底（みなそこ）, 海底 .～̀ gr á ve ｟文｠水中 [海底 ]の墓場, 水死する [した ]場所 .