World Book 1997 4.0

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<HTML> <HEAD><TITLE>DICTIONARY: water - water ballet</TITLE></HEAD> <BODY BGCOLOR="#ffffff"> <A HREF="a.dic">A</A> <A HREF="b.dic">B</A> <A HREF="c.dic">C</A> <A HREF="d.dic">D</A> <A HREF="e.dic">E</A> <A HREF="f.dic">F</A> <A HREF="g.dic">G</A> <A HREF="h.dic">H</A> <A HREF="i.dic">I</A> <A HREF="j.dic">J</A> <A HREF="k.dic">K</A> <A HREF="l.dic">L</A> <A HREF="m.dic">M</A> <A HREF="n.dic">N</A> <A HREF="o.dic">O</A> <A HREF="p.dic">P</A> <A HREF="q.dic">Q</A> <A HREF="r.dic">R</A> <A HREF="s.dic">S</A> <A HREF="t.dic">T</A> <A HREF="u.dic">U</A> <A HREF="v.dic">V</A> <A HREF="w.dic">W</A> <A HREF="x.dic">X</A> <A HREF="y.dic">Y</A> <A HREF="z.dic">Z</A> <A NAME="water"> water, noun, verb, adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD>noun 1. the liquid that fills the oceans, rivers, lakes, and ponds, and falls from the sky as rain. We use water for drinking and washing. Pure water is a transparent, colorless, tasteless, odorless compound of hydrogen and oxygen. It freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees centigrade (Celsius), boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees centigrade (Celsius), and has its maximum density at 39 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees centigrade (Celsius), one cubic centimeter weighing one gram. <DD> 2. a liquid like water occurring in or discharged from the human body, especially: <DD> a. tears. Ex. a ... rap on the nose ... which brought the water into his eyes (Dickens). <DD> b. saliva. Ex. the thought of ... oysters brought the water to his mouth (W. S. Gilbert). <DD> c. urine. Ex. to void water. <DD> d. any one of various other bodily liquids, such as sweat or serum. <DD> 3a. any liquid preparation like water. Ex. lavender water, barley water. <DD> b. (Pharmacology.) a saturated solution in water of some volatile or aromatic substance. Ex. ammonia water. <DD> 4a. a body of water; sea, lake, river, bay, sound, or the like. Ex. to cross the water on a ferry. <DD> b. an underground flow or pool of water. Ex. to strike water at 267 feet. <DD> 5a. the water of a sea, river, lake, bay, sound, or the like, with reference to its relative depth or height. Ex. to reach low water in August. <DD> b. the depth of water, or of a body of water, with regard to suitability for navigation. Ex. to sail in shallow water. <DD> 6. the surface of a body of water. Ex. to swim under the water. <DD> 7. (Figurative.) the degree of clearness and brilliance of a precious stone. A diamond of the first water is a very clear and brilliant one. <DD> 8. a wavy marking, as on silk, mohair, or metal. <DD> 9. (Finance.) <DD> a. additional shares or securities issued without a corresponding increase of capital or assets. <DD> b. an inflationary quality; excess. Ex. It has been suggested that there may be some water in current steel backlogs, meaning that many users may have placed orders some time ago hoping to beat the obviously forthcoming steel price increase (New York Times). <DD> 10. =water color. <DD>v.t. 1. to sprinkle or wet with water. Ex. to water grass, to water the streets. <DD> 2a. to supply with drinking water. Ex. to water cattle. <DD> b. to supply water to (as an army, ship, or engine); fill, as the tanks or reservoirs of. Ex. He seized the town ... and watered his ship ... at the enemy's wells (Charles Kingsley). <DD> 3. to supply (land, crops, or people and communities) with water. Ex. Our valley is well watered by rivers and brooks. <DD> 4. to weaken by adding water. Ex. It is against the law to sell watered milk. <DD> 5. to produce a wavy marking on (as silk) by sprinkling it with water and passing it through a calender. <DD> 6. (Finance.) to increase (as stock) by issue of additional shares or securities without a corresponding addition in capital or assets. <DD>v.i. 1a. to fill with water; flow with tears. Ex. Strong sunlight makes your eyes water. <DD> b. to secrete abundant saliva, usually in anticipation of food. Ex. The cake made the boy's mouth water. <DD> 2. to drink water; get drinking water. <DD> 3. to take on a supply of fresh water. Ex. A ship waters before sailing. <DD>adj. 1. of water; holding, storing, conveying, or distributing water. Ex. a water jug, a water pipe, a water heater. <DD> 2. done or used in or on water. Ex. water sports. <DD> 3. growing or living in or near water; having water as its habitat. Ex. water plants. <DD> 4. prepared with water; diluted with water; mixed with water. Ex. water paint. <DD> 5. at or near the edge of a body of water. Ex. water frontage. <DD> 6. associated with water; having rule over water. Ex. a water god. <DD> 7. worked, driven, or powered by water. expr. above water, <DD> a. above the surface of the water; not submerged; afloat. Ex. Our Carpenter ... was lost for want of having fastened on somewhat that might have kept him above water (J. Davies). <DD> b. (Figurative.) out of trouble or difficulty, especially out of financial trouble or difficulty. Ex. A number of struggling men, who have managed to keep above water during the bad seasons, must now go under (Field, Farm, Garden). expr. back water, to order oarsmen to row in a reverse direction to give a boat sternway, or to the oarsmen on the port or starboard side only, to effect a quick turn. Ex. The mate yelled to back water as the whale surfaced. expr. blow out of the water, thoroughly destroy or discredit. Ex. Yet after the document went to press, this premise was blown out of the water (Hugo Young). expr. by water, on a ship or boat. Ex. to ship by water. expr. fish in troubled waters. See under troubled waters. expr. hold water, to stand the test; be true, dependable, or effective. Ex. I think these documents will hold water (G. Allen). expr. in deep water, in trouble, difficulty, or distress. Ex. Once he had been very nearly in deep water because Mrs. Proudie had taken it in dudgeon that a certain young rector, who had been left a widower, had a very pretty governess for his children (Anthony Trollope). expr. like water, very freely. Ex. spend money like water. expr. like water off a duck's back, without having any effect. Ex. It had all passed off like water off a duck's back (L. B. Walford). expr. make water, to take in water through leaks or over the side. Ex. Almost simultaneously a similar SOS was received from the stricken Dutch vessel. It said: "Dutch vessel making water, require immediate assistance" (New York Times). expr. of the first water, <DD> a. of the highest degree. Ex. That boy is a scamp of the first water. <DD> b. See under water, n. (def. 7). expr. pour (throw or dash) cold water on, to discourage by being indifferent or unwilling. Ex. Father threw cold water on our plan to camp in the mountains because he thought it was dangerous. expr. take (the) water, <DD> a. to go swimming. Ex. I heard a splash and saw a deer take the water 300 yards or so above me (Scribner's Monthly). <DD> b. to be launched. Ex. The cruiser Kent ... took the water without a hitch (Scotsman). <DD> c. to embark; take ship. Ex. For see, the Queen's barge lies at the stairs, as if her Majesty were about to take water (Scott). <DD> d. (Western U.S.) to leave abruptly; run away. Ex. The fellow, who was really a coward, though nearly twice as big as myself, took water at once (L. Roberts). expr. take (the) waters, to drink mineral water at a health resort, usually in a scheduled course of treatment. Ex. He went to Hot Springs last winter to take the waters. expr. tread water, <DD> a. to keep oneself from sinking by moving the feet up and down. Ex. Barely managing to breathe, he treaded water until the lifeguard pulled him out. <DD> b. (Figurative.) to be in a state of uncertainty; be unsettled. Ex. The channel-tunnel discussions had acted as a negative influence, and ... British Railways had largely been treading water while awaiting the decision (London Times). expr. water down, <DD> a. to reduce in strength by diluting with water. Ex. to water down whiskey. <DD> b. (Figurative:) Ex. An amendment to almost the same effect--though somewhat watered down in wording--was promptly offered (Newsweek). How can the needs of the slow learner be met more adequately without stultifying and watering down the intellectual performance of brighter pupils? (Atlantic). expr. water over the dam, something that is finished and cannot be changed or remedied. Ex. Mr. Ferrers did not like talking about the past. "That's all water over the dam" (New Yorker). expr. waters, <DD> a. flowing water. Ex. the broad waters of the Mississippi. <DD> b. water moving in waves; sea; high seas. Ex. And hear the mighty waters rolling evermore (Wordsworth). <DD> c. flood water; floods. Ex. The waters are out in Lincolnshire (Dickens). <DD> d. spring water; mineral water. Ex. to drink the waters. <DD> e. the amniotic fluid. Ex. The amnion, which encloses the amniotic fluid, is often called the bag of waters. noun waterer. </DL> <A NAME="waterage"> waterage, noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. conveyance as by ship or boat; transport by water. <DD> 2. the charge or payment for this. </DL> <A NAME="waterarum"> water arum,<DL COMPACT><DD> a plant of the arum family growing in moist woods and marshes, with greenish-yellow flowers that bloom in early spring and red berries; calla; marsh calla. </DL> <A NAME="waterback"> water back,<DL COMPACT><DD> a tanklike receptacle or reservoir for heating water, built into the back of a wood or coal stove. </DL> <A NAME="waterbag"> water bag,<DL COMPACT><DD> 1. a bag of skin or leather used for holding or carrying water, especially in Oriental countries. <DD> 2. the reticulum of an animal. <DD> 3. the membranous sac filled with amniotic fluid; bag of waters. <DD> 4. =hot-water bottle. </DL> <A NAME="waterbailiff"> water bailiff,<DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) an official responsible for the enforcement of bylaws relating to fishing waters. </DL> <A NAME="waterballet"> water ballet,<DL COMPACT><DD> a rhythmic, synchronized dance performed by swimmers in the water; synchronized swimming. </DL> <A HREF="waterbas.dic">NEXT</A>