Definition of: water

(wô′tər, wot′ər) noun
1. A colorless limpid liquid compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H₂O, in the proportion of two volumes of hydrogen to one of oxygen, or by weight of approximately 2 parts of hydrogen to 16 of oxygen. Water has its maximum density at 4⁰ C. or 39^o F., one cubic centimeter weighing a gram. It freezes at 0° C. or 32° F., and boils at 100⁰ C. or 212° F.
2. Any body of water, as a lake, river, or a sea; in Scotland, a small river.
3. Any one of the aqueous or liquid secretions of animals; also, perspiration, tears, urine, etc.
4. Any preparation of water holding a gaseous or volatile substance in solution.
5. The transparency or luster of a precious stone or a pearl; hence, excellence; purity.
6. An undulating sheen given to certain fabrics, as silk. etc.
7. In commerce and finance, stock issued without increase of paid–in capital to represent it.
—above water Out of danger; secure.
—hard water Water containing in solution salts of calcium and magnesium, especially the sulfates or bicarbonates of these elements: so called because of the difficulty of obtaining a soap lather with such water.
—soft water Water free from the salts of calcium and magnesium, as rain water and water found in sandstone districts.
—v.t.
1. To pour water upon; irrigate.
2. To provide with water for drinking; give water to.
3. To dilute or weaken with water: often with down.
4. To give an undulating sheen to the surface of (silk, linen, etc.) by uneven pressure after damping and heating.
5. To enlarge the number of shares of (a stock company) without increasing the paid–in capital in proportion.
6. To provide with streams: used in the passive participle.
—v.i.
7. To secrete or discharge water, tears, etc.
8. To fill with saliva, as the mouth, from desire for food.
9. To drink water.
10. To take in water, as a locomotive. [OE wœter. Akin to OTTER.]
Water may appear as a combining form in hyphemes or solidemes, or as the first element in two–word phrases: