water

wa|ter1 [ `wɔtər ] noun ***

1. ) uncount the clear liquid that falls as rain and is used for things such as drinking and washing:

Soldiers were able to get food and water across the border.

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Just add water to the cake mix.

a glass of water

sparkling/carbonated water (=water for drinking that has gas added to it)

a ) the supply of water to homes and buildings:

the monthly water bill

running water (=a water supply that comes into a building through pipes): The house doesn't even have running water.

2. ) uncount an area of water such as a lake or ocean:

From the hotel there's a beautiful view of the water.

San Francisco is right on the water.

by water (=by boat): Island residents have their mail delivered by water.

a ) count or uncount the surface of a lake or the ocean:

The water was calm and still.

swimming under the water

b ) waters plural an area of water that belongs to a particular place, state, country, etc.:

The boat sailed into international waters.

Cuban waters

the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic Sea

3. ) waters plural used for talking about a particular type of situation:

young couples thrown headfirst into the unknown waters of parenthood

stormy/turbulent etc. waters (=a difficult situation): There seemed to be stormy waters ahead for the Bush administration.

murky waters (=a mysterious or frightening situation): Someone mentions drugs and the waters turn very murky.

throw/pour cold water on something

to do or say something that spoils someone's plan or enthusiasm for doing something:

I don't want to throw cold water on your travel plans, but how do you expect to pay for this trip?

someone's water breaks or someone's waters break

if a pregnant woman's water breaks, liquid flows out of her body because her baby is ready to be born

water off a duck's back

used for saying that advice, warnings, or insults do not affect someone

water under the bridge

used for saying that you should stop thinking about something bad that happened in the past and you should forgive people who did bad things:

Don't worry it's all just water under the bridge.

=> BABY1, BLOW1, DEAD1, DEEP1, DUCK1, HEAD1, HELL1, HOT

water

wa|ter 2 [ `wɔtər ] verb *

1. ) transitive to pour water on plants to keep them healthy:

Don't forget to water the flowers.

2. ) intransitive if something such as wind makes your eyes water, it makes tears form in your eyes

a ) if your mouth waters when you see food, smell food, or think about food, SALIVA begins to form in your mouth because you are hungry:

The smell made my mouth water.

3. ) transitive to give water to an animal:

Then they have to feed and water the dogs.

a ) HUMOROUS to give someone a drink:

Have you been fed and watered?

,water `down phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to make something such as a statement or newspaper article less offensive, powerful, or detailed:

Some of the more forthright sections were watered down by the editors.

2. ) to add water to a drink or liquid in order to make it less strong: DILUTE