water

noun

• 1a colourless, transparent, odourless, liquid which forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms: sodium chloride dissolves in water can I have a drink of water?
• 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
• (usually 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 (chemical formula: H₂O) 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 figurativethe 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

• 3urine: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

• 5the 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 object] 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): the ship was watered and fresh livestock taken aboard

• 2 [no object] (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 object] 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.