high¹ /hī/

1. Elevated
2. Lofty
3. Tall
4. Far up from a base, such as the ground, sea level, low tide, the mouth of a river, the zero of a scale, etc
5. Advanced in a scale, esp the scale of nature
6. Reaching far up
7. Expressible by a large number
8. Of a height specified or to be specified
9. Of advanced degree of intensity
10. Advanced, full (in time, eg high season or high summer)
11. (of a period) at its peak of development, as in High Renaissance
12. Of grave importance
13. Advanced
14. Exalted, as in high drama
15. Excellent
16. Eminent
17. Dignified
18. Chief (as in high priestess)
19. Noble
20. Haughty
21. Arrogant
22. Extreme in opinion
23. Powerful
24. Angry
25. Loud
26. Violent
27. Tempestuous
28. Acute in pitch
29. Luxurious (as in the high life)
30. Elated
31. Drunk
32. Over-excited, nervy
33. Under the influence of a drug
34. Standing out
35. Difficult, abstruse
36. (of a price) dear
37. For heavy stakes
38. Remote in time
39. (of meat, etc) slightly tainted or decomposed, or, in the case of game, ready to cook
40. Pronounced with some part of the tongue well raised in the mouth (phonetics)
41. (of latitude) far from the equator
42. (of an angle) approaching a right angle
43. (of facial colouring) florid

1. At or to an elevated degree
2. In or into a raised position
3. Aloft
4. Shrilly
5. Arrogantly
6. Eminently
7. Powerfully
8. Extremely
9. Luxuriously
10. Dear
11. For heavy stakes

1. That which is high
2. An elevated region
3. The highest card
4. A high level
5. The maximum, highest level
6. An anticyclone
7. A euphoric or exhilarated frame of mind, esp under the influence of a drug (informal)
8. Something that promotes such a frame of mind
9. A high school

highˈer adjective compar of high noun

(with cap; also Higher grade) (in Scotland, a pass in) an examination generally taken at the end of the fifth or sixth year of secondary education (also adjective)

1. To raise higher
2. To lift

To ascend

highˈermost (rare) or highˈest adjective

Superl of high

highˈish adjective

Somewhat high

highˈly adverb

1. In or to a high degree
2. In a high position

highˈmost adjective

highˈness noun

1. The state of being high
2. Dignity of rank
3. (with cap) a title of honour given to princes, princesses, royal dukes, etc

hight /hīt/ or highth /hīth/ noun

Obsolete forms of height

high admiral noun

A high or chief admiral of a fleet

high altar see under altar

high-alumina cement noun

A type of quick-hardening cement, made of bauxite and chalk or limestone, found to lose strength through time under certain conditions

high bailiff noun (obsolete)

An officer who served writs, etc in certain franchises, exempt from the ordinary supervision of the sheriff

highˈball noun (N American)

Whisky (or other alcoholic spirit) and soda with ice in a tall glass

intransitive verb

To go at great speed

transitive verb

To drive very fast

highˈ-battled adjective (Shakespeare; also hye-battel'd)

Appar in command of proud battalions

highˈbinder noun (US)

1. A member of a Chinese criminal secret society
2. A conspirator
3. A rowdy, ruffian or blackmailer

high-blestˈ adjective (Milton)

Supremely blest or happy

highˈblooded adjective

Of noble lineage

highˈ-blown adjective

1. Swelled with wind
2. Inflated, as with pride (orig Shakespeare)

highˈ-born adjective

Of noble birth

highˈboy noun (N American)

A tallboy

highˈ-bred adjective

Of noble breed, training or family

highˈbrow noun and adjective

(an) intellectual

highˈbrowism noun

high camp see under camp²

highˈchair noun

A baby's or young child's tall chair, usu fitted with a tray, used esp at mealtimes

High Church adjective

1. Of a section within the Church of England that exalts the authority of the episcopate and the priesthood, the saving grace of sacraments, etc
2. Of similar views in other churches

High-Churchˈism noun

High-Churchˈman noun

highˈ-class adjective

1. Superior
2. Typical of or belonging to an upper social class

high-colˈoured adjective

1. Having a strong or glaring colour
2. (of a complexion) ruddy
3. Over-vivid

high comedy noun

Comedy set in refined sophisticated society, characterized more by witty dialogue, complex plot and good characterization than by comical actions or situations

high command noun

The commander-in-chief of the army together with his staff, or the equivalent senior officers of any similar force

High Commission, High Commissioner see under commission

high court noun

A supreme court

high cross noun

A town or village cross

high day noun

1. A holiday or festival
2. /dāˈ/ broad daylight
3. /hīˈ/ heyday (non-standard)

adjective

Befitting a festival

high-definition television see HDTV

high-definiˈtion adjective

Providing exceptional visual clarity

high-denˈsity adjective (computing)

(of a disk) having very large data-storage capacity

highˈ-dried adjective

1. Brought to an advanced stage of dryness
2. Of fixed and extreme opinions

High Dutch see under Dutch

highˈ-end adjective

1. Most expensive
2. Typical of or appealing to the wealthy

high-energy physics singular noun (physics)

Same as particle physics (see under particle)

higher criticism noun

The inquiry into the composition, date and authenticity of a text, esp of the Bible, from historical and literary considerations

higher education noun

Education at a level beyond that of secondary education, eg at a university or college

Higher grade see higher above.

higher mathematics singular noun

Mathematics at an advanced level, eg number theory

highˈer-up noun (informal)

A person occupying an upper position

high explosive noun

A detonating explosive (eg dynamite, TNT) of great power and exceedingly rapid action

highˈ-explōsive adjective

highfalutin or highfaluting /-lootˈ/ (informal) adjective

1. Affected
2. Pompous

noun

Bombastic discourse

high fashion noun

Haute couture

high feather noun

1. High spirits
2. Happy state

highˈ-fed adjective

1. Fed highly or luxuriously
2. Pampered

highˈ-feeding noun

high fidelity noun

Good reproduction of sound (see also hi-fi)

high-fidelˈity adjective

high five or high-fiveˈ-sign noun

A sign of greeting or celebration, esp popular in N America, consisting of the slapping of raised right palms

high-fiveˈ intransitive verb and transitive verb

highˈ-flīˈer or highˈ-flyˈer noun

1. A bird that flies high
2. Someone prone to extravagance of opinion or action
3. An ambitious person, or one naturally equipped to reach prominence
4. (with cap; historical) a High-Churchman, or, in Scotland, an Evangelical

highˈ-flown adjective

1. Extravagant
2. Elevated
3. Turgid

highˈ-flyˈing adjective

1. Extravagant in conduct or opinion
2. Ambitious or prominent

high frequency see under frequent

high'-functioning adjective

Used esp of a person with autism, able to perform sophisticated tasks

high gear see under gear

High German noun

1. Of upper or southern Germany
2. The standard form of the German language, as it is written and spoken amongst educated people
3. That form of Germanic language affected by the second consonant shift, including the literary language of Germany

highˈ-grade adjective

1. Superior
2. Rich in metal

transitive verb

To steal rich ore from

highˈ-grown adjective (Shakespeare)

Covered with a high growth

high hand noun

Arbitrary arrogance

highˈ-handˈed adjective

1. Overbearing
2. Arbitrary

highˈ-handˈedness noun

highˈ-hatˈ noun

1. Orig a wearer of a top hat
2. A snob or aristocrat (informal)
3. A person who puts on airs (informal)
4. /hīˈhat/ a pair of cymbals on a stand, the upper one operated by a pedal so as to strike the lower one (also hiˈ-hat)

adjective

Affectedly superior

intransitive verb

To put on airs

transitive verb

To adopt a superior attitude towards or to ignore socially

highˈ-heartˈed adjective

Full of courage

highˈ-heeledˈ adjective

Having or wearing high heels

High Holidays or High Holy Days plural noun

The Jewish festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

high hurdles singular noun

A hurdle race in which the obstacles are 107cm (42in) high

high'-im'pact adjective

1. (of a material such as plastic) strong enough to withstand great impact
2. Denoting exercises, esp aerobics, in which both feet leave the ground at the same time

highjack, highjacker see under hijack

high jinks plural noun

1. Boisterous play, jollity
2. An old Scottish tavern game in which people played various parts under penalty of a forfeit

high jump noun

1. (a field event consisting of) a jump over a high bar
2. Punishment, a severe reproof, esp in the phrase be for the high jump

highˈ-key adjective

(of paintings and photographs) having pale tones and very little contrast

high kick noun

A dancer's kick high in the air, usu with a straight leg

highˈ-kiltˈed adjective

1. Having the skirt tucked up high
2. Indecorous

highˈland noun

1. A mountainous district
2. (with cap; in pl) the north-west of Scotland, bordered geologically by the great fault running from Dumbarton to Stonehaven, or, ethnologically, the considerably narrower area in which Gaelic is, or was until recently, spoken

adjective

Belonging to or characteristic of a highland, esp (usu with cap) the Highlands of Scotland

Highland cattle plural noun

A shaggy breed of cattle with very long horns

Highland dress or Highland costume noun

Kilt, plaid and sporran

highˈlander noun

An inhabitant or native of a mountainous region, esp (with cap or Highˈlandman) of the Highlands of Scotland

Highland fling noun

A lively solo dance of the Scottish Highlands

Highland Games plural noun

An event consisting of competitions in athletic sports, bagpiping, traditional dancing, etc held in the Scottish Highlands or by Scots in other places

highˈ-levˈel adjective

At a high level, esp involving very important people

high-level language noun (computing)

A computer-programming language that allows a user to employ instructions in a form similar to natural language rather than using machine code

high-level waste noun

Nuclear waste requiring continuous cooling to remove the heat produced by radioactive decay

high life noun

1. The life of fashionable society
2. The people of this society
3. A blend of traditional W African music and N American jazz, popular in W Africa

highˈlight noun

1. An outstanding feature
2. (in pl) the most brightly-lit spots
3. The most memorable moments
4. (usu in pl) a portion or patch of the hair that reflects the light or that is artificially made lighter than the rest of the hair

transitive verb (pap and pat highˈlighted)

1. To throw into relief by strong light
2. To draw attention to or point out
3. To overlay (parts of a text) with a bright colour, for special attention
4. To add highlights to (a person's hair)

highˈlighter noun

1. A broad-tipped felt pen for highlighting parts of a text, etc
2. A cosmetic used to emphasize features on the face

high living noun

Luxurious living

highˈ-lone adverb (Shakespeare)

Quite alone

highˈ-low noun (archaic; often pl)

An ankle-high shoe fastened in front

highly-strungˈ adjective

Nervously sensitive, excitable

highly tried adjective (horse-racing)

Tested in experienced company

highˈ-mainˈtenance adjective

1. Requiring a high degree of care to remain in working order
2. Demanding of care and attention (informal)

highˈman noun (pl highˈmen)

A loaded die

High Mass noun

A mass celebrated with music, ceremonies and incense

highˈ-mettˈled adjective

High-spirited, fiery

highˈ-mindˈed adjective

1. Having a high, proud or arrogant mind (rare)
2. Having lofty principles and thoughts

highˈ-mindˈedness noun

high-muck-a-muck noun see separate entry.

highˈ-neckedˈ adjective

(of a garment) covering the shoulders and neck

high noon noun

1. Exactly noon
2. The peak (figurative)

high-occupancy vehicle noun

A vehicle carrying two or more people, sometimes entitled to preferential toll rates or to use dedicated road lanes

highˈ-ocˈtane adjective

(of petrol) of high octane number and so of high efficiency (also figurative)

highˈ-pitchedˈ adjective

1. Acute in sound, tending towards treble
2. (of a roof) steep
3. Lofty-toned

highˈ-place noun (Bible)

An area of high ground on which idolatrous rites were performed by the Jews, hence the idols, etc themselves

highˈ-placed adjective

1. Having a high place
2. Placed high

high places plural noun

Positions of importance and usu influence

high point noun

1. The most memorable, pleasurable, successful, etc moment or occasion
2. A high spot

high polymer noun

A polymer of high molecular weight

highˈ-powˈered adjective

1. Very powerful
2. Very forceful and efficient

highˈ-pressˈure adjective

1. Making or allowing use of steam or other gas at a pressure much above that of the atmosphere
2. Involving intense activity, stressful
3. Forceful, persuasive

highˈ-pricedˈ adjective

Costly

high priest noun

A chief priest

high priestess noun

highˈ-priestˈhood noun

highˈ-priestˈly adjective

highˈ-prinˈcipled adjective

Of high, noble or strict principle

high profile noun

A conspicuous position

highˈ-proˈfile adjective

Prominent, public

highˈ-proof adjective

1. Proved to contain much alcohol
2. Highly rectified

highˈ-raised or highˈ-reared adjective

1. Raised aloft
2. Elevated

highˈ-ranker noun

highˈ-ranking adjective

1. Senior
2. Eminent

highˈ-reachˈing adjective

1. Reaching upwards
2. Ambitious

high relief noun

Bold relief, standing out well from the surface

highˈ-resoluˈtion adjective

(of a computer monitor, TV screen, etc) showing an image in great detail by using a large number of dots per unit area

highˈ-rise adjective

(of modern buildings) containing a large number of storeys

noun

Such a building

highˈ-riskˈ adjective

1. Vulnerable to some sort of danger
2. Potentially dangerous

highˈroad noun

1. One of the public or chief roads
2. A road for general traffic

highˈ-rollˈer noun

1. A plunging spendthrift
2. A person who gambles for high stakes

highˈ-rollˈing noun

high school noun

A secondary school, often one that was formerly a grammar school

high seas plural noun

The open ocean

high season noun

The peak tourist period

highˈ-seaˈsoned or highˈly-seaˈsoned adjective

Made rich or piquant with spices or other seasoning

highˈ-set adjective

Placed or pitched high

high shoe noun (archaic)

A boot not reaching far above the ankle

highˈ-sightˈed adjective (Shakespeare)

Looking upwards, supercilious

high sign noun (N American)

A signal, often surreptitious, of warning or indicating that it is safe to proceed

high society noun

Fashionable, wealthy society

highˈ-souled adjective

Having a high or lofty soul or spirit

highˈ-soundˈing adjective

1. Pompous
2. Imposing

high spec adjective

Of a high standard of design and workmanship

highˈ-speed adjective

Working, or suitable for working, at a great speed

high-speed steel noun

An alloy that remains hard when red-hot, suitable for metal-cutting tools

highˈ-spirˈited adjective

1. Having a high spirit or natural fire
2. Bold
3. Daring
4. Cheerful

high spirits plural noun

A happy, exhilarated frame of mind

high spot see under spot

highˈ-steppˈer noun

1. A horse that lifts its feet high from the ground
2. A person of imposing bearing or fashionable pretensions

highˈ-steppˈing adjective

highˈ-stickˈing noun

The offence in ice hockey of wielding the blade of the hockey stick above the height allowed

highˈ-stomˈached adjective (Shakespeare)

Proud-spirited, lofty, obstinate

High Street noun

1. (sometimes without caps) a common name for the main, or former main, shopping street of a town
2. (with the) shops generally, the everyday marketplace

highˈ-street adjective

Typical of or readily found in high streets

highˈ-strung adjective (esp N American)

Highly-strung

high table noun

The dons' table in a college dining-hall

highˈtail intransitive verb

To hightail it (see below)

highˈ-tapˈer noun

Hag-taper, the great mullein

highˈ-tastˈed adjective

Having a strong, piquant taste or relish

high tea noun

An early-evening meal comprising a hot dish followed by cakes, etc and tea

high tech or hi tech noun

A style or design of furnishing, etc imitative of or using industrial equipment

highˈ-tech or hiˈ-tec adjective

high technology noun

Advanced, sophisticated technology in specialist fields, eg electronics, involving high investment in research and development

highˈ-tenˈsion adjective

High-voltage

highˈ-test adjective

(of petrol) boiling at comparatively low temperature and so of high performance

high tide noun

1. High water
2. A tide higher than usual
3. A great festival (rare)

high time noun

1. Quite time (that something were done)
2. A time of jollity

high toby see under toby

highˈ-toned adjective

1. High in pitch
2. Morally elevated
3. Superior, fashionable

highˈ-top noun (Shakespeare)

A masthead

high tops plural noun

Training shoes which extend above the ankles

high treason noun

Treason against the sovereign or state

highˈ-up noun

Someone in high position (also adjective)

high-vacˈuum adjective (electronics)

(of a system) so completely evacuated that the effect of ionization on its subsequent operation may be neglected

highˈ-velocˈity adjective

(of shells) propelled at high speed with low trajectory

highˈ-viced adjective (Shakespeare)

Enormously wicked

highˈ-volˈtage adjective

Of or concerning a high voltage, one great enough to cause injury or damage

high water noun

1. The time at which the tide or other water is highest
2. The greatest elevation of the tide

highˈ-waˈter mark noun

1. The highest line so reached
2. A tidemark
3. Highest point

highˈway noun

1. A public road on which all have right to go
2. The main or usual way or course
3. A road, path or navigable river (law)
4. See bus (computing)

Highway Code noun

(the booklet containing) official rules and guidance on correct procedure for road users

highˈwayman noun

A robber who attacks people on the public way

highway patrol noun (N American).

high-wing monoplane noun

An aircraft with the wing mounted on or near the top of the fuselage

high wire noun

A tightrope stretched exceptionally high above the ground

high words plural noun

Angry altercation

highˈwrought adjective

1. Wrought with exquisite skill
2. Highly finished
3. Elaborate
4. Worked up, agitated

for the high jump (informal)

1. About to be reprimanded or chastised
2. About to be hanged

from on high

From a high place, heaven, or (facetiously) a position of authority

high and dry

1. Up out of the water
2. Stranded, helpless

high and low

1. Rich and poor
2. Up and down
3. Everywhere

high and mighty (ironic)

1. Exalted
2. Arrogant

high as a kite (informal)

Over-excited, drunk, or very much under the influence of drugs

high life below stairs

Servants' imitation of the life of their employers

high old time (informal)

A time of special jollity or enthusiasm

hightail it (informal, esp N American)

To hurry away

hit the high spots

1. To go to excess
2. To reach a high level

on high

1. Aloft
2. In heaven

on one's high horse

1. In an attitude of fancied superiority
2. Very much on one's dignity

on the high ropes (informal)

In an elated or highly excited mood

running high see under feel

frequent /frēˈkwənt/

1. Coming or occurring often
2. Crowded (obsolete)
3. Addicted (Shakespeare)

1. To visit (a place) often
2. To associate with
3. To resort to (obsolete)
4. To crowd (obsolete)

frēˈquence noun

1. A crowd or assembly (Milton)
2. Frequency

frēˈquency noun

1. Commonness of recurrence
2. The number of vibrations, cycles or other recurrences in unit time (in ascending order, high, very high, ultra-high, extremely high, super-high frequency)
3. A broadcasting wavelength
4. Resort (obsolete)

frēquentāˈtion noun

The act of visiting often

frequentative /fri-kwentˈə-tiv/ (grammar) adjective

Denoting the frequent repetition of an action

A verb or affix expressing this repetition

frequentˈer noun

frēˈquently adverb

frēˈquentness noun

frequency distribution noun

A set of statistical data showing numerical values for the frequencies of different scores or results

frequency modulation noun

Modulation in radio transmission by varying the frequency of the carrier wave, giving greater fidelity than amplitude modulation and (almost) freedom from atmospherics (abbrev FM)

high frequency

A radio frequency of between 3 and 30 megahertz

low frequency

A radio frequency of between 30 and 300 kilohertz

medium frequency

A radio frequency of between 300 kilohertz and 3 megahertz

superhigh frequency

A radio frequency of between 3000 and 30000 megahertz

hie² or high /hī/ (Scot)

The call to a horse to turn to the left (cf hup)

To turn to the left (of or to a horse or plough-ox)

profile /prōˈfīl (formerly also -fēl and -fil)/

1. An outline
2. A head or portrait in a side view
3. The outline of any object without foreshortening (art)
4. A drawing of a vertical section of country, an engineering work, etc
5. A graph
6. A short biographical sketch, eg in a newspaper or magazine
7. An outline of the characteristic features (of eg a particular type of person)
8. An outline of the course of an operation
9. One's manner, attitude or behaviour considered with regard to the extent to which it attracts attention to oneself and one's activities or reveals one's feelings, intentions, etc, or the extent of one's involvement, etc (as in low, high, etc profile)
10. A public image, esp one created and controlled by design

1. To draw in profile
2. To make an outline of
3. To show in profile
4. To give a profile to
5. To shape the outline of
6. To write or give a profile of

prōˈfiler noun

prōˈfiling noun

The process of compiling a profile of a person's physical (eg DNA) or psychological characteristics

prōˈfilist noun

Someone who draws profiles

water /wöˈtər/

1. (in a state of purity, at ordinary temperatures) a clear transparent colourless liquid, perfectly neutral in its reaction, and devoid of taste or smell
2. Extended to the same substance (H₂O) in solid or gaseous state (ice or steam)
3. Any body of this (in varying degrees of impurity), such as an ocean, lake, river, etc
4. The surface of a body of water
5. (in pl) waves, moving water, a body of water
6. A river valley (Scot)
7. The position of the tide, as in high or low water
8. One of the four elements recognized by early natural philosophers
9. A quantity of the liquid used in any one stage of a washing operation
10. A liquid resembling or containing water
11. Mineral water (usu in pl if at a spa)
12. Saliva
13. (usu in pl) the amniotic fluid filling the space between the embryo and the amnion
14. Applied to the fluids secreted by the body, tears, urine, sweat
15. Rain
16. Transparency, lustre, eg of a diamond
17. Class, quality, excellence, esp in the phrase of the first or purest water
18. A wavy sheen on fabric, esp silk or satin
19. An increase in a company's stock issue without an increase in assets to back it up (economics)

1. To wet, overflow or irrigate with water
2. To supply (a plant) with water
3. To give (an animal) water to drink
4. To dilute or adulterate with water
5. To soften by soaking (obsolete)
6. (of a river, etc) to surround (a city, etc) (also water about; obsolete)
7. To wet and press (eg silk) so as to give a wavy appearance to
8. To increase (the debt of a company) by issuing new stock without a corresponding increase in assets

1. To fill with, or shed, water
2. (of the mouth; also, obsolete and Scot, the teeth) to secrete saliva at the sight or thought of food, or (figurative) in anticipation of anything delightful
3. (of an animal) to drink
4. To take in water

1. Relating to or used in the storage or distribution of water
2. Worked by water
3. Used, living or operating on or in water
4. By way of or across water
5. Made with or formed by water

waˈterage noun

1. Conveyance (eg of cargo or passengers) by water
2. Money paid for this

waˈtered adjective

1. (of eg silk) marked with a wavy pattern by watering
2. (of capital or stock) increased in nominal value without any corresponding increase in assets

waˈterer noun

1. Someone who or something that waters
2. A vessel for dispensing water

waˈteriness noun

waˈtering noun

1. The process of giving, irrigating, filling, etc with water
2. The act of drinking (obsolete)
3. Dilution with water
4. The art or process of giving fabric, etc a wavy, ornamental appearance
5. Such an appearance

waˈterish adjective

1. Resembling, abounding in or filled with water
2. Dilute, thin, poor, insipid

waˈterishness noun

waˈterless adjective

waˈtery adjective

1. Full of water
2. (of eyes) moist, secreting water noticeably
3. Relating to, consisting of or containing water
4. Like water
5. Thin or transparent
6. Tasteless
7. Weak, vapid
8. (of the sky or sun) having a rainy appearance
9. Associated with or controlling the sea, tides, rain, etc
10. (of the palate) watering, eager (Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida III.2.20)

water bag noun

1. A bag for holding water
2. A camel's reticulum

water bailiff noun

1. A custom-house officer who inspects ships on reaching or leaving port (obsolete)
2. An official whose duty is to enforce bylaws relating to fishing, or to prevent poaching in protected waters (also, now Scot, water bailie)

water ballast noun

1. Water carried by a ship to balance or redress the change of draught due to consumption of fuel or provisions or discharge of cargo
2. Water carried for purposes of stability

water barometer noun

A barometer in which water is substituted for mercury

water barrel or water cask noun

A barrel or cask for holding water

water bath noun

1. A bath composed of water
2. A vessel of water in which other vessels can be immersed, eg in chemical work

water battery noun

1. A voltaic battery in which the electrolyte is water
2. A battery nearly on a level with the water (fortification)

water bear noun

The tardigrade, a tiny invertebrate with eight legs

Water Bearer or Water Carrier noun

Aquarius

water bed noun

(a bed with) a rubber or plastic mattress filled with water

water beetle noun

Any of a large number of beetles living on or in water, having fringed legs by means of which they swim easily

water bellows plural noun or singular noun

A form of blower worked eg by a column of water falling through a vertical tube, formerly used to supply a blast for furnaces

water bird noun

A swimming or wading bird

water birth noun

A birth in which the mother is partially immersed in water in a birthing pool (qv under birth¹)

water biscuit noun

A thin plain biscuit made with water

water blink noun

1. In Arctic regions, a patch of sky reflecting the colour, and hence indicating the presence, of open water
2. (in pl) the plant blinks (qv under blink)

water blister noun

A blister containing watery fluid, not blood or pus

water bloom or water flowers noun

Large masses of algae, chiefly blue-green, which sometimes develop very suddenly in bodies of fresh water

water boa noun

The anaconda (Eunectes murinus)

waˈterboarding noun

A form of water torture in which the victim is secured to a board, face upwards with the head inclined down, and has water poured over the face, nose and mouth

water boatman noun

Any of a number of aquatic leathery-winged insects with hindlegs suggestive of oars

waˈter-borne or waˈterborne adjective

1. Floating on water
2. Conveyed by water, esp in a boat
3. (of infection, etc) transmitted by means of water

water bottle noun

A leather, glass or plastic bottle for holding drinking water, carried eg by hikers

water bouget /booˈjət/ noun (historical)

A skin or leather bottle used to carry water, usu one of a pair hung on opposite ends of a yoke

waˈter-bound adjective

1. Detained by floods
2. (of a macadam road or road surfacing) formed of broken stone, rolled and covered with a thin layer of hoggin, which is watered in and binds the stones together

water box noun

A water jacket

waˈter-brain noun

Gid, a disease of sheep

water brash noun

Pyrosis, a sudden gush into the mouth of acid fluids from the stomach, accompanied by a burning sensation (heartburn) in the gullet

water break noun

A stretch of water where the current is broken

waˈter-breather noun

Any creature that breathes by means of gills

waˈter-breathing adjective

water brose noun (Scot)

Brose made of meal and water alone

waˈterbuck noun

Any of several antelopes, esp Cobus ellipsiprymnus

water buffalo noun

The common domestic buffalo (genus Bubalus) of India, etc

water bug noun

Any of a large variety of hemipterous insects, including water boatmen, etc, found in or beside ponds, etc

water bull noun

A mythical amphibious animal like a bull

water bus noun

A passenger-carrying boat plying a regular route across a lake, river, etc

water butt noun

A large barrel for collecting rainwater

water cannon noun

A high-pressure hosepipe used to disperse crowds

waˈter-carriage noun

1. Conveyance by water
2. Facilities for it

Water Carrier see Water Bearer above.

water cart noun

A cart for conveying water, esp for the purpose of watering streets or roads

water cell noun

One of several cells in a camel's stomach used for storing water

water cement noun

Hydraulic cement

water chestnut noun

1. A water plant (Trapa natans, or other species) of or related to the Onagraceae
2. Its edible seed
3. A Chinese sedge (Eleocharis tuberosa), or its edible tuber

water chute /shŭt or shoot/ noun

An artificial cascade or slope leading to water, down which people (sometimes in boats or toboggans) slide for sport

water clerk noun (old)

An employee of a ship's chandler, who sails about the harbour to seek custom from the ships about to dock

water clock noun

1. A clock that works by means of flowing water
2. A clepsydra

water closet noun

1. A lavatory of which the pan is flushed by water (old)
2. A small room containing such a lavatory (abbrev WC)

water cock noun

The kora, a large East Indian gallinule

waˈtercolour or (US) waˈtercolor noun

1. A pigment diluted with water and gum (or other substance) instead of oil
2. A painting in such a colour or colours

waˈtercolourist or (US) waˈtercolorist noun

A painter in watercolours

waˈter-cool transitive verb

To cool (eg an engine) by means of water, esp circulating water

waˈter-cooled adjective

water cooler noun

A machine for cooling by means of water or for keeping water cool

waˈter-cooling adjective and noun

waˈter-core noun

1. (in an apple or other fruit) an abnormality consisting of water-soaked tissue, esp close to the core
2. (water core) (in founding) a hollow core through which water may be passed

waˈtercourse noun

1. A channel through which water flows or has flowed
2. An artificial water channel
3. A stream or river

water cow noun

A female water buffalo or water bull

waˈtercraft noun

1. A boat
2. (as pl) boats collectively
3. Skill in swimming, etc, or in managing boats

water crane noun

1. An apparatus for supplying water from an elevated tank, esp to a locomotive tender
2. A hydraulic crane

waˈtercress noun

(often, esp formerly, in pl) a perennial cress (Nasturtium officinale) growing in watery places, used as a salad

water culture noun

A method of cultivation, often an experimental means of determining the mineral requirements of a plant, the plant being grown with its roots dipping into solutions of known composition

water cure noun

Medical treatment by means of water, hydrotherapy

water cycle noun

The cycle in which water from the sea evaporates into the atmosphere, later condenses and falls to earth as rain or snow, then evaporates directly back into the atmosphere or returns to the sea by rivers

water deck noun

A decorated canvas cover for a dragoon's saddle

water deer noun

1. A small Chinese musk deer of aquatic habits
2. In Africa, one of the chevrotains

water diviner noun

A person who, usu with the help of a divining rod, detects or tries to detect the presence of underground water

water doctor noun

1. A hydropathist
2. Formerly, a doctor who divined diseases from the urine

water dog noun

1. Any variety of dog (formerly a specific variety, a small poodle) valuable to sportsmen in hunting waterfowl on account of its aquatic habits
2. A water vole
3. An otter (obsolete)
4. Any of various other animals
5. An experienced sailor (informal)
6. A good swimmer
7. A small irregular floating cloud supposed to indicate rain

waˈter-drinker noun

1. A drinker of water
2. A teetotaller

waˈterdrive noun

The use of water pressure, either occurring naturally or by waterflood (qv below), to drive oil, gas, etc from a reservoir

water drop noun

1. A drop of water
2. A tear

water dropwort noun

A genus (Oenanthe) of umbelliferous plants, including the common water dropwort (Oenanthe fistulosa) and hemlock water dropwort, or water hemlock (Oenanthe crocata)

waˈtered-down adjective

1. Much diluted
2. Reduced in vigour, modified, attenuated

water elder noun

The guelder rose

water engine noun

1. An engine for raising water
2. An engine worked by water
3. An engine for extinguishing fires (obsolete)

water equivalent noun

Thermal capacity, the product of the specific heat of a body and its mass

waˈterfall noun

1. A fall or perpendicular descent of a body of water, a cataract or cascade
2. A necktie (obsolete)
3. A chignon (obsolete)

water fern noun

Any of the Hydropterideae or rhizocarps, water or marsh plants differing from ferns in the narrower sense in being heterosporous, classified in two families, Marsileaceae and Salviniaceae

waˈter-finder noun

A water diviner

water flag noun

The yellow iris

water flea noun

1. The common name for any of numerous minute aquatic crustaceans
2. A daphnid

water flood noun

1. An inundation
2. (waˈterflood) the process or an instance of waˈterflooding, the practice, in oil, gas or petroleum production, of injecting water to maintain pressure in a reservoir and to drive the oil, etc towards the production wells

water flow noun

A current of water

waˈter-flowing adjective

Streaming

water fly noun

1. An aquatic insect
2. An insignificant, troublesome person (Shakespeare)

waˈterfowl noun

1. A fowl that frequents water
2. (as pl) swimming game birds collectively

water frame noun

A water-driven spinning-machine invented by Richard Arkwright in the 18c

waˈterfront noun

The buildings or part of a town along the edge of and facing the sea, a river, etc

water gall noun (obsolete and dialect)

1. A watery appearance in the sky accompanying a rainbow
2. A secondary rainbow

water gap noun

A gap in a mountain range containing a stream

water gas noun

A mixed gas obtained by passing steam (blue water gas) or steam and air (semiwater gas) over incandescent coke, or other source of carbon

water gate noun

1. A floodgate
2. A gate admitting to a river or other body of water
3. A street leading to the water (Scot)
4. See also separate entry Watergate

water gauge or water gage noun

1. An instrument for measuring the quantity or height of water
2. Water pressure expressed in inches, in terms of the height of the head of water
3. An instrument for measuring differences in pressure (mining)

waˈter-gilding noun

Wash-gilding

water glass noun

1. A water clock
2. An instrument for making observations beneath the surface of water
3. A glass vessel for containing water, eg one for holding plants
4. A finger bowl (obsolete)
5. A tumbler
6. (waˈterglass) a concentrated and viscous solution of sodium or potassium silicate in water, used as adhesive, protective covering, etc, and (esp formerly) for preserving eggs

water god noun

A deity presiding over a tract of water

water gong noun (music)

The effect of dipping a vibrating gong into and raising it out of water to produce upward and downward glissandos

water gruel noun

1. Gruel made with water
2. Anything insipid

water guard noun

River, harbour or coast police

water gun noun (esp N American)

A water pistol

water hammer noun

1. A wave of increased pressure travelling through water in a pipe caused by a sudden stoppage or change in the water flow
2. The concussion and noise so caused

water head noun

1. The source, eg of a stream
2. The region where this is found
3. A dammed-up body of water, or its quantity, height or pressure

waˈter-heater noun

An apparatus for heating domestic water

water hemlock noun

1. A poisonous plant, Cicuta virosa
2. Any other plant of the same genus
3. Water dropwort (qv above)

waˈterhen noun

The gallinule or moorhen, or other bird of the rail genus

water hole noun

A pool in which water has collected, eg a spring in a desert or a pool in the dried-up course of a river

water horse noun

1. A water spirit like a horse
2. A kelpie

water hyacinth noun

A tropical floating aquatic plant (Eichhornia crassipes) with bluish flowers, that grows in thick masses in ponds, etc

water ice noun

Sweetened fruit juice or purée diluted with water, frozen and served as a kind of ice cream, a sorbet

waˈtering-call noun

A cavalry trumpet signal to give water to horses

watering can or (US) watering pot noun

A vessel used for watering plants

waˈtering-cap noun (obsolete)

A cavalryman's fatigue cap

watering hole noun

1. A water hole, where animals go to drink
2. A place where humans seek (esp alcoholic) refreshment, a pub (facetious)

waˈtering-house noun (obsolete)

An inn or other place where horses are watered

watering place noun

1. A place where water may be obtained
2. A place to which people resort to drink mineral water, or for bathing, etc

waˈtering-trough noun

1. A trough from which horses and cattle drink
2. A trough between the rails containing water to be scooped up by locomotives

water jacket noun

A casing containing water placed round eg the cylinder block of an internal-combustion engine to keep it cool (also water box)

waˈter-jet adjective

Operated by a jet of water

water joint noun

1. A joint in a pavement that is raised to prevent water lying in it
2. A joint in sheet metal roofing forming a channel for rainwater

water jump noun

A place where a jump across a stream, pool, ditch, etc, has to be made, eg in a steeplechase

water key noun (music)

In brass instruments, a sprung lever that allows drainage of accumulated moisture

water leaf noun

1. Any plant of the genus Hydrophyllum or the family Hydrophyllaceae, N American herbs with sharply toothed leaves and cymose flowers
2. An ornament used in the capitals of columns, probably representing the leaf of some water plant (architecture)

water lemon noun

A species of passion flower, or its edible fruit

water lens noun

A simple lens formed by placing a few drops of water in a vessel, eg a small brass cell with blackened sides and a glass bottom

water level noun

1. The level formed by the surface of still water
2. An instrument in which water is used for establishing a horizontal line of sight
3. A waterline
4. A water table (geology)
5. A slightly inclined road to carry off water (mining)

water lily noun

A name commonly given to the different species of Nymphaea and Nuphar, and also to other members of the family Nymphaeaceae (the three British species are the white water lily Nymphaea alba, and the yellow water lilies Nuphar luteum and Nuphar minimum, the latter being rare)

waˈterline noun

1. Any of several lines on a ship to which it is submerged under different conditions of loading, eg the light waterline marking the depth when it is without cargo
2. Any of certain lines on a vessel parallel with the water showing the contour of the hull at various heights (shipbuilding)
3. The water level
4. The outline of a coast
5. A chain line in laid paper, one of the wider-spaced of the two sets of lines intersecting at right angles, visible by transmitted light (vertical in a folio or octavo page and horizontal in a quarto one)

waˈterlog transitive verb

1. To make (a boat, etc) unmanageable by flooding with water
2. To saturate with water so as to make heavy, inert or unfit for use, or so as to impede life or growth (also figurative)

waˈterlogged adjective

water lot noun

A piece or lot of ground that is under water

water main noun

A large subterranean pipe supplying water

waˈterman noun

1. A man who transports passengers in his boat, a boatman, a ferryman
2. A skilled oarsman
3. A person whose job is to supply water, eg (historical) to cab horses or coach horses
4. An imaginary being living in water

waˈtermanship noun

Oarsmanship

waˈtermark noun

1. The line of the greatest height to which water has risen
2. A tidemark
3. A ship's waterline
4. A distinguishing mark in paper, a design visible by transmitted light, made by the mould or the dandy-roll

transitive verb

1. To mark with a watermark
2. To impress as a watermark

water meadow noun

A meadow kept fertile by flooding from a stream

water measure noun (historical)

A measurement used for goods such as coal, salt, etc sold on board ship, the bushel, etc being larger than the standard bushel, etc

water measurer noun

An aquatic insect of the genus Hydrometra, which walks on the surface of water preying on mosquito larvae, etc

waˈtermelon noun

1. A plant (Citrullus vulgaris) of the cucumber family, of African origin, having a large, pulpy, pleasantly flavoured fruit
2. The fruit itself

water meter noun

An instrument for measuring the quantity of water passing through a particular outlet

water milfoil see under milfoil

water mill noun

A mill driven by water

water moccasin noun

A poisonous snake of the southern USA

water mole noun

1. The desman, a shrew-like aquatic animal
2. The duckbill or platypus

water monkey noun

A round, narrow-necked, porous earthenware jar for holding drinking water, cooled by evaporation and used in hot climates (also monkey jar)

water motor noun

Any water wheel or turbine, esp any small motor driven by water under pressure

water mouse noun

1. The water vole
2. Any mouse of the genus Hydromys (Aust)

water music noun (historical)

Music performed, or composed for performance, during an excursion by water

water nixie noun

A nixie

water nymph noun

A nymph inhabiting water, esp a naiad of Greek mythology

water of crystallization or water of hydration noun

The water present in hydrated compounds, which, when crystallized from solution in water, retain a definite amount of water

water of life noun

1. Spiritual refreshment
2. Whisky, brandy, etc

water on the brain noun

Hydrocephalus

water on the knee noun

An accumulation of serous fluid in the knee joint

water opossum noun

The yapok, an amphibious opossum of S America

water ouzel noun

The dipper, an aquatic songbird of the genus Cinclus

water parsnip noun

Any plant of the aquatic umbelliferous genus Sium, esp the skirret

waˈter-parting noun

A watershed or divide

water pepper noun

A very acrid persicaria (Polygonum hydropiper) of wet places

water pipe noun

1. A pipe for conveying water
2. A hookah

water pistol noun

A weapon or toy for shooting a jet of water or other liquid

water plane noun

1. A plane passing through any waterline of a ship
2. The plane of the surface of water
3. A canal on the level without locks (historical)
4. A seaplane

water plant noun

A plant that grows in water

water plantain noun

1. A plant (Alisma plantago) having plantain-like leaves and clustered white or pink flowers
2. Any other plant of the Alisma genus

water plate noun

A plate having a double bottom enclosing a space for hot water, used to keep food warm

water poet noun

A writer of doggerel verse (after John Taylor, 1580–1653, a writer of jingling verses, etc, who was for a time a Thames waterman and called himself ‘the Water-poet’)

water polo noun

1. An aquatic ball game played by swimmers, seven a side
2. A similar game played by contestants in canoes

water pore noun (botany)

1. A hydathode, a water-secreting organ
2. A madreporite, a sieve-like calcareous plate in certain echinoderms

water pot noun

A pot or vessel for holding water

water potential noun (botany)

A measure of the free energy of water in a solution, eg in a cell or soil sample, and hence of its tendency to move by diffusion, osmosis or in vapour form

water power noun

1. The power of water, employed to move machinery, etc
2. A flow or fall of water which may be so used

waˈterpox noun (rare)

Varicella, ie chickenpox

water privilege noun

1. The right to the use of water, esp for driving machinery
2. A place where this right may be exercised

waˈterproof adjective

1. Coated eg with rubber or plastic, so as to be impervious to water
2. So constructed as to exclude water

noun

A material or an outer garment made impervious to water

transitive verb and intransitive verb

To make or become impervious to water, esp through the process of coating with a solution

waˈterproofing noun

1. The process of making any substance impervious to water
2. The material with which this is done

water pump noun

1. A pump for raising water
2. The eye (humorous)

water purpie noun

The plant brooklime

waˈterquake noun

A seismic disturbance affecting the sea

water rail noun

The common rail (Rallus aquaticus) of Europe, a long-beaked wading marsh bird

water ram noun

A hydraulic ram

water rat noun

1. The popular name of the water vole
2. The American muskrat
3. A pirate
4. A sailor or boatman

water rate noun

A rate or tax for the supply of water

water reactor noun

A water-cooled nuclear reactor

waˈter-repellˈent adjective

(of a fabric, etc) treated so as not to absorb water

waˈter-resisˈtant adjective

(treated so as to be) resistant to penetration by water

water rice noun see zizania

water rug noun

A kind of water dog, perh from rug¹ (Shakespeare, Macbeth III.1.93)

water sail noun (nautical)

On square rigged ships, a fine-weather sail set below a lower studding-sail, almost touching the water

water sapphire noun

(translating Fr saphir d'eau) an intense blue variety of cordierite used as a gemstone

water scorpion noun

A long-legged water insect of the family Nepidae, which has a long breathing tube at the end of the abdomen and large forelegs for seizing and holding prey

water seal noun

A seal formed by water in a trap

waˈtershed noun

1. The line of high ground separating two river basins
2. A drainage or a catchment area (non-standard)
3. A slope or structure down which water flows
4. A crucial point or dividing line between two phases, conditions, etc
5. The time of the evening after which it is accepted that television programmes considered unsuitable for children may be broadcast, etc

water shoot noun

1. A channel for the overflow of water
2. A water chute

waˈter-shot adjective (rare)

Crossed by streams

waˈterside noun

The edge of a sea, lake, etc, a shore (also adjective)

water sign noun

Any of the three signs of the zodiac (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) believed to have an affinity with water

waˈter-ski noun

A water-planing ski used in waˈter-skiing, the sport of being towed at speed on a ski or skis behind a motorboat

intransitive verb (waˈter-skiing; waˈter-skied or waˈter-ski'd)

To ride on water-skis

waˈter-skier noun

water slide noun

A slide, often lubricated with flowing water, that ends in a swimming pool

waˈtersmeet noun

The confluence of two streams

water smoke noun

Water evaporating as visible mist

water snail noun (esp US)

A name for the Archimedean screw (qv)

water snake noun

Any of various kinds of snake (esp of genus Natrix) frequenting fresh water

water softener noun

A device or substance for removing the causes of hardness in water

water soldier noun

An aquatic plant (Stratiotes aloides) with sword-like leaves and white flowers reminiscent of plumes of feathers, common in lakes and ditches in the east of England

waˈter-soluble adjective

Soluble in water

water souchy /sooˈchi or sooˈshi/ noun

Fish served in the water in which it is boiled (Du waterzootje, from zootje boiling)

water spaniel noun

A spaniel bred to retrieve waterfowl, the Irish water spaniel having a liver-coloured coat

water spider noun

An aquatic spider, esp Argyroneta aquatica, which has an underwater bell-shaped web inflated with air carried down in bubbles

water spirit noun

A water sprite

water splash noun

A shallow stream running across a road

water sports plural noun

1. Sports practised on or in the water
2. Sexual arousal or gratification associated with urination (informal)

waˈterspout noun

1. A pipe, etc from which water spouts
2. The spout of water
3. A torrential downpour of rain
4. A disturbance like a very small tornado, a revolving column of cloud, mist or spray

water spring noun (Bible)

A spring

waˈter-sprinˈkle noun (Spenser)

1. A spray of water
2. A sprinkle

water sprite noun

A sprite inhabiting water

waˈter-standing adjective (Shakespeare)

Brimming with tears

water starwort noun

A water plant, genus Callitriche

water stick insect noun

A slender twiglike water insect (Ranatra linearis), closely related to the water scorpion

water strider noun

Any long-legged aquatic insect of the family Hydrobatidae

water supply noun

1. The obtaining and distribution of water, eg to a community
2. The amount of water thus distributed

water table noun

1. A moulding, esp in the string course of a building, designed to throw rainwater outwards so that it does not flow down the wall below (architecture)
2. The level below which fissures and pores in the strata are saturated with water (geology)

water tap noun

A tap used for letting out water

water thermometer noun

A thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, and used for showing the point at which water has its greatest density

water thief noun (Shakespeare)

A pirate

water thrush noun

Either of two species of American warbler (Seiurus motacilla or S. noveboracensis) with brownish backs and striped underparts, living near water

water thyme noun

The waterweed anacharis

waˈtertight adjective

1. So well-sealed as not to admit water or let it escape
2. (of an argument, etc) such that no flaw, weakness or source of misinterpretation can be found in it

watertight compartment noun

1. A section of a ship's hull or other underwater structure so formed that water cannot enter it from any other part
2. A part, esp of one's thoughts or beliefs, shut off from the influence of other parts

waˈtertightness noun

water tortoise noun

A terrapin or other aquatic tortoise, eg Pelomedusa subrufa

water torture noun

Torture using water, esp dripping it slowly onto the victim's forehead

water tower noun

1. A tower containing tanks in which water is stored so that it may be delivered at sufficient pressure for distribution to an area
2. A vertical pipe supplied with water under high pressure, used in firefighting

water tube boiler noun

A boiler consisting of a large number of closely-spaced water tubes connected to one or more drums, which act as water pockets and steam separators, giving rapid water circulation and quick steaming

water tunnel noun (aeronautics)

A tunnel in which water is circulated instead of air to obtain a visual representation of flow

water twist noun

1. A kind of cotton yarn, first made by the water frame
2. In spinning, more than the usual amount of twist

water vapour noun

Water in gaseous form, esp when evaporation has occurred at a temperature below boiling point

waˈter-vasˈcular adjective

1. Relating to vessels in certain invertebrates which contain a mixture of water and a nutritive fluid
2. In echinoderms, relating to the system of coelomic canals (water-vascular system) associated with the tube feet and supplying fluid for their movement

water vine noun

A name for various plants yielding a refreshing watery sap

water violet noun

A plant of the genus Hottonia of aquatic herbs with racemose flowers and crowded submerged leaves

water vole noun

A large British vole, Arvicola amphibius, commonly known as the water rat

water wagon noun

1. A wagon used to convey water
2. Abstinence from alcohol, as in be or go on the water wagon (informal)

water wagtail noun

A wagtail, esp the pied wagtail

water wave noun

1. A wave of water
2. A wave in the hair made by setting it when wet

waˈter-wave transitive verb

To make such a wave in (hair)

waˈterway noun

1. A series of pieces of timber, extending round a ship at the junction of the decks with the sides, having a groove connecting with the scuppers to carry off water
2. Any channel for water
3. A stretch of navigable water
4. A route over, or by, water

waˈterweed noun

Any plant with very small flowers and leaves growing in ponds, etc, esp anacharis

water wheel noun

1. A wheel moved by water, formerly used as a source of energy to drive machinery, etc
2. An engine for raising water

water wings plural noun

A winglike inflated device that fits across the chest, or a pair of inflatable armbands, for keeping a non-swimmer, esp a child learning to swim, afloat in water

water witch noun

A dowser

water witching noun

Dowsing

waˈterwork noun

1. (usu in pl) any apparatus or plant by which water is supplied, eg to a town
2. (usu in pl) an ornamental fountain, cascade, etc (obsolete)
3. Fabric painted to look like and be used like tapestry (historical)
4. (usu in pl) tear-shedding, weeping (humorous)
5. (usu in pl) the urinary system (euphemistic)

waˈter-worn adjective

Worn by the action of water

water yam noun

A plant with farinaceous rootstock, the lattice leaf

above water

Out of difficulties, esp financial

by water

Using water transport, by ship, boat, etc

cast someone's water (obsolete)

To examine someone's urine to aid in the diagnosis of disease

high water and high-water mark see under high¹

hold water

(of an argument, etc) to be correct or well-grounded, to bear examination

in deep water or waters

1. In water too deep for safety
2. In trouble, difficulty or distress, esp of the financial kind

keep one's head above water

To remain out of difficulty or trouble, esp to keep solvent

like water

1. Copiously
2. Extravagantly, recklessly

like water off a duck's back

(of a scolding, etc) having no effect, making no impression

low water and low-water mark see under low¹

make a hole in the water (slang)

To drown oneself

make the mouth water

To arouse a delightful feeling of anticipation or desire

make water

(of a boat) to leak, take in water

make or pass water

To urinate

of the first or purest water see water (n).

pour or throw cold water on or over

To discourage by one's indifference or dismissiveness

pour oil on troubled waters

To take measures to calm down a stormy state of affairs, from the effect of pouring oil on rough water

still waters run deep

A quiet exterior often conceals strong emotions, resolution, cunning, etc

test the water or waters

To try to ascertain probable reaction or response before making a proposal, selling a product, etc

under water

Below the surface

water down (lit and figurative)

To dilute, make less strong, attenuate

water under the bridge

1. Experiences that are over and done with
2. Past problems that have been forgotten or put down to experience

• postmastership
• postmasterships
• postmen
• postmenopausal
• postmenstrual
• postmeridian
• post meridiem
• post mill
• post-millenarian
• post-millenarians
• post-millennial
• post-millennialism
• post-millennialist
• post-millennialists
• post mills
• postmistress
• postmistresses
• post-modern
• post-modernism
• post-modernist
• post mortem
• post-mortem
• post-mortems
• postnasal
• postnatal