heavy water

noun

1

: the compound D₂O composed of deuterium and oxygen

called also deuterium oxide

2

: water enriched in deuterium

Examples of heavy water in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s history, revolution, spies, plus a desperate dash to keep a dangerous scientific breakthrough – heavy water – out of the hands of the baddies. — Monitor Reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026

That’s a no-no for the National Flood Insurance Program and the Florida Building Code, because single family homes are not usually designed to handle the weight of all that heavy, heavy water pushing on them. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Its supply of heavy water had come from a single plant in Norway that was destroyed in 1944. — Mike McRae 06, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026

Data centers have become notorious for their heavy water use — with the liquid used as a cooling agent for the servers and computers that run 24 hours a day. — John Aguilar, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for heavy water

• imprimatur
• underwater
• auteur
• blotter
• cotter
• daughter
• hotter
• mater
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• slaughter

Kids Definition

heavy water

noun

: water enriched in deuterium

Medical Definition

heavy water

noun

1

: the compound D₂O composed of deuterium and oxygen

called also deuterium oxide

2

: water having a higher-than-usual proportion of deuterium among its hydrogen atoms