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