Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

waterworks

play
plural noun wa·ter·works \ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwərks, ˈwä-\

Definition of waterworks

  1. 1 :  the system of reservoirs, channels, mains, and pumping and purifying equipment by which a water supply is obtained and distributed (as to a city)

  2. 2 :  an ornamental fountain or cascade

  3. 3 :  the shedding of tears :  tears

Explore Merriam-Webster

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz
alt-59760690a61d7
Trending: Trump Tweets, We Define: 'Beleaguered'
image1358596246
Words About Word Play
alt-596f95fe451e7
'Drought' & 'Drouth' Take Us Back In Time

First Known Use of waterworks

1621

Phrases Related to WATERWORKS

Related Phrases

WATERWORKS Defined for English Language Learners

waterworks

play
noun

Definition of waterworks for English Language Learners

  • : a system for supplying water to a city or town that includes pipes, pumps, etc.

  • : the parts of the body that produce urine : the urinary system

WATERWORKS Defined for Kids

waterworks

play
noun plural wa·ter·works \ˈwȯ-tər-ˌwərks, ˈwä-\

Definition of waterworks for Students

  1. :  a system of dams, reservoirs, pumps, and pipes for supplying water (as to a city)

Learn More about waterworks

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of waterworks Nglish: Translation of waterworks for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up waterworks? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

wreak

play

to bring about or cause (something)

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. beleaguer 'Being subjected to constant or repeated trouble or harassment'

  2. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  3. non sequitur “It does not follow”

  4. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  5. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

waterworks

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image1358596246
Words About Word Play

Don't just eat your words—play with them!

alt-596f95fe451e7
'Drought' & 'Drouth' Take Us Back In Time

A variant spelling with a long history

alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

Give them your best

image386126722
Words and Phrases That Come from the Dinner Table

Fill your plate with these surprising food words

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game