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water
- Main Entry:
- 1wa·ter
- Pronunciation:
-
\ˈwȯ-tər, ˈwä-\
- Function:
- noun
- Usage:
- often attributive
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Old English wæter; akin to Old High German wazzar water, Greek hydōr, Latin unda wave
- Date:
- before 12th century
1 a: the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid oxide of hydrogen H2O which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, is feebly ionized to hydrogen and hydroxyl ions, and is a poor conductor of electricity and a good solvent b: a natural mineral water —usually used in plural2: a particular quantity or body of water: as a (1)plural : the water occupying or flowing in a particular bed (2)chiefly British : lake, pond b: a quantity or depth of water adequate for some purpose (as navigation) cplural (1): a band of seawater abutting on the land of a particular sovereignty and under the control of that sovereignty (2): the sea of a particular part of the earth d: water supply <threatened to turn off the water> 3: travel or transportation on water <we went by water>4: the level of water at a particular state of the tide : tide5: liquid containing or resembling water: as a (1): a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation made with water (2): a watery solution of a gaseous or readily volatile substance — compare ammonia water barchaic : a distilled fluid (as an essence); especially : a distilled alcoholic liquor c: a watery fluid (as tears, urine, or sap) formed or circulating in a living body d: amniotic fluid; also : bag of waters 6 a: the degree of clarity and luster of a precious stone b: degree of excellence <a scholar of the first water>7: watercolor8 a: stock not representing assets of the issuing company and not backed by earning power b: fictitious or exaggerated asset entries that give a stock an unrealistic book value
— above water : out of difficulty
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