Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: NATURE

Language: Old English
Origin: wæter

water

1 noun
     
wa‧ter1 S3 W1 [uncountable]
1

liquid

DN the clear liquid without colour, smell, or taste that falls as rain and that is used for drinking, washing etcCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
glass/drink of water tap water (=water that comes out of a tap) drinking water spring/mineral/bottled water (=water to drink that you buy in bottles) running water (=water that comes out of a system of pipes) stagnant water (=still water in a lake, pool etc) seawater/bathwater/rainwater hot/cold/boiling/tepid etc water soapy water hard/soft water (=water that contains a lot of or a little calcium) salt/fresh water (=water that contains salt or does not contain salt) turn on/turn off the water (=turn a tap to let water come out or to stop it coming out)
There's water all over the bathroom floor.
Does anyone want a drink of water?
a glass of sparkling mineral water
All rooms have hot and cold running water.
Pour boiling water over the rice and let it soak.
a fresh water spring
When dealing with a burst pipe, always turn off the water first.
contamination of the local water supply
2

area of water

a) DN an area of water such as the sea, a lake etc
Rangoon is surrounded on three sides by water.
Denzil dived into the water.
He stepped down to the water's edge.
by water (=by boat)
The temple can only be reached by water.
b) DN the surface of a lake, river etc [↪ underwater]
on the water
something floating on the water
3

waters

[plural] a large area of water, especially an ocean that is near or belongs to a particular country:
the coastal waters of Alaska
a species found in inland waters (=not the sea, but rivers, lakes etc)
4

high/low water

HEO the highest or lowest level of the sea and some rivers [= tide]
5

uncharted/troubled/murky waters

formal a situation that is difficult, dangerous, or unfamiliar:
the uncharted waters of the 21st century
6

be (all) water under the bridge

informal used to say that what happened in the past should be forgotten
7

like water

if you use something or spend money like water, you use or spend large amounts of it when you should try to save it - used to show disapproval:
Some of the companies were spending money like water.
8

like water off a duck's back

informal if criticism, warnings etc are like water off a duck's back, they have no effect on the person you are saying them to
9

somebody's waters break

MB when a pregnant woman's waters break, liquid comes from her body just before her baby is born
10

water on the brain/knee

old-fashioned informal liquid around the brain or knee as the result of a disease
11

take the waters

old-fashioned to wash yourself in or drink special water that is thought to make you healthy
12

make/pass water

formalHBH to urinate
➔ soda water, toilet water

; ➔ in deep water

at deep1 (15)

; ➔ take to something like a duck to water

at duck1 (4)

; ➔ of the first water

at first1 (18)

; ➔ (be/feel) like a fish out of water

at fish1 (3)

; ➔ not hold water

at hold1 (37)

; ➔ in hot water

at hot1 (10)

; ➔ muddy the waters

at muddy2 (2)

; ➔ pour cold water over/on something

at pour (6)

; ➔ still waters run deep

at still2 (5)

; ➔ test the water

at test2 (7)

; ➔ tread water

at tread1 (5)

; ➔ troubled waters

at troubled (3)
Definition of water from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
the topic NATURE
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