| mean high water | <marine biology> The average height of the high water over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observation, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. All high-waters heights are included in the average where the type of tide is either semidiurnal or mixed. Only the higher high-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is diurnal. So determined, mean high water in the latter case is the same as mean higher high water. (09 Oct 1997) |
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| mean lower low water | <marine biology> The average height of the lower low waters over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mean low water | <marine biology> The average height of the low waters over a 19-year period. For shorter periods of observations, corrections are applied to eliminate known variations and reduce the result to the equivalent of a mean 19-year value. All low-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is either semidiurnal or mixed. Only the lower low-water heights are included in the average where the type of tide is diurnal. So determined, mean low water in the latter case is the same as mean lower low water. (09 Oct 1997) |
| chalybeate water | A water that contains salts of iron in appreciable quantities. (05 Mar 2000) |
| rice-water stool | A watery fluid containing whitish flocculi, discharged from the bowel in cholera and occasionally in other cases of serous diarrhoea. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chlorine water | A water that contains the chlorides of sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in varying amounts. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ground water | That portion of the water below the surface of the ground whose pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure. (09 Oct 1997) |
| mineral water | Water that contains appreciable amounts of certain salts, which give it therapeutic properties. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| 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) |