water

n. [ AS. wæter; akin to OS. watar, OFries. wetir, weter, LG. & D. water, G. wasser, OHG. wazzar, Icel. vatn, Sw. vatten, Dan. vand, Goth. watō, O. Slav. & Russ. voda, Gr. 'y`dwr, Skr. udan water, ud to wet, and perhaps to L. unda wave. √137. Cf. Dropsy, Hydra, Otter, Wet, Whisky. ] 1. The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. “We will drink water.” Shak. “Powers of fire, air, water, and earth.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, and is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid, which is very slightly compressible. At its maximum density, 39° Fahr. or 4° C., it is the standard for specific gravities, one cubic centimeter weighing one gram. It freezes at 32° Fahr. or 0° C. and boils at 212° Fahr. or 100° C. (see Ice, Steam). It is the most important natural solvent, and is frequently impregnated with foreign matter which is mostly removed by distillation; hence, rain water is nearly pure. It is an important ingredient in the tissue of animals and plants, the human body containing about two thirds its weight of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water. [ 1913 Webster ]

Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first coming to the university, he kneeled. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp., the urine. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Pharm.) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water. U. S. Pharm. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc. See Water, v. t., 3, Damask, v. t., and Damaskeen. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or “diluted.” [ Brokers' Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Water is often used adjectively and in the formation of many self-explaining compounds; as, water drainage; water gauge, or water-gauge; waterfowl, water-fowl, or water fowl; water-beaten; water-borne, water-circled, water-girdled, water-rocked, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hard water. See under Hard. --
Inch of water, a unit of measure of quantity of water, being the quantity which will flow through an orifice one inch square, or a circular orifice one inch in diameter, in a vertical surface, under a stated constant head; also called miner's inch, and water inch. The shape of the orifice and the head vary in different localities. In the Western United States, for hydraulic mining, the standard aperture is square and the head from 4 to 9 inches above its center. In Europe, for experimental hydraulics, the orifice is usually round and the head from 1/12 of an inch to 1 inch above its top. --
Mineral water, waters which are so impregnated with foreign ingredients, such as gaseous, sulphureous, and saline substances, as to give them medicinal properties, or a particular flavor or temperature. --
Soft water, water not impregnated with lime or mineral salts. --
To hold water. See under Hold, v. t. --
To keep one's head above water, to keep afloat; fig., to avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of life. [ Colloq. ] --
To make water. (a) To pass urine. Swift. (b) (Naut.) To admit water; to leak. --
Water of crystallization (Chem.), the water combined with many salts in their crystalline form. This water is loosely, but, nevertheless, chemically, combined, for it is held in fixed and definite amount for each substance containing it. Thus, while pure copper sulphate, CuSO4, is a white amorphous substance, blue vitriol, the crystallized form, CuSO4.5H2O, contains five molecules of water of crystallization. --
Water on the brain (Med.), hydrocephalus. --
Water on the chest (Med.), hydrothorax. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Other phrases, in which water occurs as the first element, will be found in alphabetical order in the Vocabulary. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Watered p. pr. & vb. n. Watering. ] [ AS. wæterian, gewæterian. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers. [ 1913 Webster ]

With tears watering the ground. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines; as, to water silk. Cf. Water, n., 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken. [ 1913 Webster ]

To water stock, to increase the capital stock of a company by issuing new stock, thus diminishing the value of the individual shares. Cf. Water, n., 7. [ Brokers' Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) (a) The water moccasin. (b) The common, harmless American water snake (Tropidonotus sipedon). See Illust. under Water Snake. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Money paid for transportation of goods, etc., by water. [ Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A kind of bur marigold (Bidens tripartita) found in wet places in Europe. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) See Water soldier. [ 1913 Webster ]

See Water buck. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) An aroid herb (Calla palustris) having a white spathe. It is an inhabitant of the north temperate zone. [ 1913 Webster ]