See Also: Inside Water - Water Polo(gambling)
water rat(medicine)
water bug(dictionary)
water(2)(dictionary)
Water(medicine)
tar-water(medicine)
water-ski(dictionary)
water-rat(dictionary)
water ice(dictionary)
water boy(dictionary)

water(2) (iou)



water verb.

I. verb trans.
a. Give a drink of water to (an animal, esp. a horse on a journey); take (cattle) to water to drink. OE.
b. Supply water to (troops on the march etc.); furnish (a boat, a fleet) with a supply of fresh water. OE.
c. Supply (an engine) with water. L19.
Drench or sprinkle (a plant, crop, etc.) with water to encourage growth; pour or sprinkle water on (soil) to promote plant growth. OE.
Irrigate (land, crops). Of a river etc.: (a) supply water to (vegetation, land); (b) surround (a site) (usu. in pass.). LME.
I. Colegate Flat meadowland, watered by slow winding rivers.
a. Soak in water. Now Canad. LME.
b. Sprinkle or drench (a material) for moistening or (a road etc.) to settle the dust. L15.
Dilute or adulterate (a drink) with water; fig. make less vivid, forceful, or shocking (now usu. water down). LME.
G. Orwell The..danger of watering the..Socialist movement down to..pale-pink humbug. Journal (Newcastle-upon-Tyne) Brewery man denies watering beer.
b. Commerce. Increase in nominal amount (the stock or capital of a trading company) by the creation of extra stock that is not sold. M19.
Produce a wavy lustrous finish on (a fabric) by sprinkling it with water and passing it through a calender. LME.
II. verb intrans.
Of the eyes: fill and run with moisture; shed water, flow with tears. Also (rare) (of tears) gather in the eyes. ME.
A. Burgess Closing his eyes in the full sunlight that made them water.
Secrete saliva in anticipation of food. Chiefly in make a person's mouth water & vars. below. M16.
A. Sillitoe Delicious sniffs of salt and vinegar..made our mouths water.
Of a ship etc.: take fresh water on board. M16.
Drink water; obtain water to drink. E17.
Urinate. rare. E17.
Phrases, & with adverbs in specialized senses: make a person's mouth water, (now Scot.) make a person's teeth water (of food) make a person salivate with a desire to eat; fig. fill a person with pleasurable anticipation or desire. one's mouth waters, (now Scot.) one's teeth water one salivates at the sight of food; fig. one is filled with pleasurable anticipation or desire. water in give water to (a seedling) on planting. water with one's tears arch. make wet with one's tears (chiefly hyperbol. or fig.).