| water | 1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers. "With tears watering the ground." (Milton) "Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the woodlands." (Longfellow) 2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses. 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. 4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken. 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. Origin: AS. Waeterian, gewaeterian. 1. The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. "We will drink water." ."Powers of fire, air, water, and earth." . Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, H2O, and is a colourless, odorless, tasteless, transparent liquid, which is very slightly compressible. at its maximum density, 39 deg Fahr. Or 4 deg C, it is the standard for specific gravities, one cubic centimeter weighing one gram. It freezes at 32 deg Fahr. Or 0 deg C. And boils at 212 deg Fahr. Or 100 deg 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. 2. A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water. "Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor scholar when first coming to the university, he kneeled." (Fuller) 3. Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; especially, the urine. 4. <pharmacology> A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water. 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. 6. A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc. See Water, 3, Damask, and Damaskeen. 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." 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. Hard water. See 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 Hold, To keep one's head above water, to keep afloat; fig, to avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of life. To make water. To pass urine. <medicine> Hydrothorax. Other phrases, in which water occurs as the first element, will be found in alphabetical order in the Vocabulary. Origin: AS. Waeter; akin to OS. Watar, OFries. Wetir, weter, LG. & D. Water, G. Wasser, OHG. Wazzar, Icel. Vatn, Sw. Vatten, Dan. Vand, Goth. Wat, O. Slav. & Russ. Voda, Gr, Skr. Udan water, ud to wet, and perhaps to L. Unda wave. Cf. Dropsy, Hydra, Otter, Wet, Whisky. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| water activity | <chemistry> An expression of the relative availability of water in a substance. Pure water has an water activity of 1.000. The water activity of a solution is one-hundredth its relative humidity. (09 Oct 1997) |
| water adder | <zoology> The water moccasin. The common, harmless American water snake (Tropidonotus sipedon). Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water agrimony | <botany> A kind of bur marigold (Bidens tripartita) found in wet places in Europe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water aloe | <botany> See Water soldier. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water arum | <botany> An aroid herb (Calla palustris) having a white spathe. It is an inhabitant of the north temperate zone. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water barometer | <physics> A barometer in which the changes of atmospheric pressure are indicated by the motion of a column of water instead of mercury. It requires a column of water about thirty-three feet in height. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water bath | In chemistry, a vessel containing water, in which a container holding a substance to be heated or evaporated can be immersed. (05 Mar 2000) |
| water battery | 1. <physics> A voltaic battery in which the exciting fluid is water. 2. A battery nearly on a level with the water. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water bear | <zoology> Any species of Tardigrada. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water-bearer | <astronomy> The constellation Aquarius. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water bed | A mattress in the form of a closed rubber bag filled with water; used to prevent or treat pressure sores by equalizing the distribution of the patient's weight against the support. (05 Mar 2000) |
| water beech | <botany> The American hornbeam. See Hornbeam. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water beetle | <zoology> Any one of numerous species of aquatic beetles belonging to Dytiscus and allied genera of the family Dytiscidae, and to various genera of the family Hydrophilidae. These beetles swim with great agility, the fringed hind legs acting together like oars. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| water bird | <zoology> Any aquatic bird; a water fowl. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |