WATER


Meaning of WATER in English

I. ˈwȯ-tər, ˈwä- 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 H 2 O 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

- above water

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 water ed 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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.