Water

Water - Other Definitions

• (n.) The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc.
  
  
• (n.) A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or other collection of water.
  
  
• (n.) Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling water; esp., the urine.
  
  
• (n.) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily volatile substance; as, ammonia water.
  
  
• (n.) The limpidity and luster of a precious stone, especially a diamond; as, a diamond of the first water, that is, perfectly pure and transparent. Hence, of the first water, that is, of the first excellence.
  
  
• (n.) A wavy, lustrous pattern or decoration such as is imparted to linen, silk, metals, etc. See Water, v. t., 3, Damask, v. t., and Damaskeen.
  
  
• (v. t.) An addition to the shares representing the capital of a stock company so that the aggregate par value of the shares is increased while their value for investment is diminished, or "diluted."
  
  
• (v. t.) To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.
  
  
• (v. t.) To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to drink; as, to water cattle and horses.
  
  
• (v. t.) To wet and calender, as cloth, so as to impart to it a lustrous appearance in wavy lines; to diversify with wavelike lines; as, to water silk. Cf. Water, n., 6.
  
  
• (n.) To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend; to dilute; to weaken.
  
  
• (v. i.) To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter; as, his eyes began to water.
  
  
• (v. i.) To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to water.
  
  
• adder () The water moccasin.
  
  
• adder () The common, harmless American water snake (Tropidonotus sipedon). See Illust. under Water Snake.
  
  
• agrimony () A kind of bur marigold (Bidens tripartita) found in wet places in Europe.
  
  
• aloe () See Water soldier.
  
  
• antelope () See Water buck.
  
  
• arum () An aroid herb (Calla palustris) having a white spathe. It is an inhabitant of the north temperate zone.
  
  
• back () See under 1st Back.
  
  
• bailiff () An officer of the customs, whose duty it is to search vessels.
  
  
• ballast () Water confined in specially constructed compartments in a vessel's hold, to serve as ballast.
  
  
• barometer () A barometer in which the changes of atmospheric pressure are indicated by the motion of a column of water instead of mercury. It requires a column of water about thirty-three feet in height.
  
  
• bath () A device for regulating the temperature of anything subjected to heat, by surrounding the vessel containing it with another vessel containing water which can be kept at a desired temperature; also, a vessel designed for this purpose.
  
  
• battery () A voltaic battery in which the exciting fluid is water.
  
  
• battery () A battery nearly on a level with the water.
  
  
• bear () Any species of Tardigrada, 2. See Illust. of Tardigrada.
  
  
• bed () A kind of mattress made of, or covered with, waterproof fabric and filled with water. It is used in hospitals for bedridden patients.
  
  
• beech () The American hornbeam. See Hornbeam.
  
  
• beetle () Any one of numerous species of aquatic beetles belonging to Dytiscus and allied genera of the family Dytiscidae, and to various genera of the family Hydrophilidae. These beetles swim with great agility, the fringed hind legs acting together like oars.
  
  
• bellows () Same as Tromp.
  
  
• bird () Any aquatic bird; a water fowl.
  
  
• blackbird () The European water ousel, or dipper.
  
  
• boatman () A boat bug.
  
  
• brain () A disease of sheep; gid.
  
  
• brash () See under Brash.
  
  
• breather () Any arthropod that breathes by means of gills.
  
  
• bridge () See Water table.
  
  
• buck () A large, heavy antelope (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) native of Central Africa. It frequents the banks of rivers and is a good swimmer. It has a white ring around the rump. Called also photomok, water antelope, and waterbok.
  
  
• buffalo () The European buffalo.
  
  
• bug () The Croton bug.
  
  
• bug () Any one of numerous species of large, rapacious, aquatic, hemipterous insects belonging to Belostoma, Benacus, Zaitha, and other genera of the family Belostomatidae. Their hind legs are long and fringed, and act like oars. Some of these insects are of great size, being among the largest existing Hemiptera. Many of them come out of the water and fly about at night.
  
  
• butt () A large, open-headed cask, set up on end, to contain water.
  
  
• caltrop () The water chestnut.
  
  
• can () Any one of several species of Nuphar; the yellow frog lily; -- so called from the shape of the seed vessel. See Nuphar, and cf. Candock.
  
  
• canker () See Canker, n., 1.
  
  
• carriage () Transportation or conveyance by water; means of transporting by water.
  
  
• carriage () A vessel or boat.
  
  
• cart () A cart carrying water; esp., one carrying water for sale, or for sprinkling streets, gardens, etc.
  
  
• cavy () The capybara.
  
  
• celery () A very acrid herb (Ranunculus sceleratus) growing in ditches and wet places; -- called also cursed crowfoot.
  
  
• cell () A cell containing water; specifically (Zool.), one of the cells or chambers in which water is stored up in the stomach of a camel.
  
  
• cement () Hydraulic cement.
  
  
• chestnut () The fruit of Trapa natans and Trapa bicornis, Old World water plants bearing edible nutlike fruits armed with several hard and sharp points; also, the plant itself; -- called also water caltrop.
  
  
• chevrotain () A large West African chevrotain (Hyaemoschus aquaticus). It has a larger body and shorter legs than the other allied species. Called also water deerlet.
  
  
• chicken () The common American gallinule.
  
  
• chickweed () A small annual plant (Montia fontana) growing in wet places in southern regions.
  
  
• chinquapin () The American lotus, and its edible seeds, which somewhat resemble chinquapins. Cf. Yoncopin.
  
  
• clock () An instrument or machine serving to measure time by the fall, or flow, of a certain quantity of water; a clepsydra.
  
  
• cock () A large gallinule (Gallicrex cristatus) native of Australia, India, and the East Indies. In the breeding season the male is black and has a fleshy red caruncle, or horn, on the top of its head. Called also kora.
  
  
• color () A color ground with water and gum or other glutinous medium; a color the vehicle of which is water; -- so called in distinction from oil color.
  
  
• color () A picture painted with such colors.
  
  
• course () A stream of water; a river or brook.
  
  
• course () A natural channel for water; also, a canal for the conveyance of water, especially in draining lands.
  
  
• course () A running stream of water having a bed and banks; the easement one may have in the flowing of such a stream in its accustomed course. A water course may be sometimes dry.
  
  
• craft () Any vessel or boat plying on water; vessels and boats, collectively.
  
  
• crake () The dipper.
  
  
• crake () The spotted crake (Porzana maruetta). See Illust. of Crake.
  
  
• crake () The swamp hen, or crake, of Australia.
  
  
• crane () A goose-neck apparatus for supplying water from an elevated tank, as to the tender of a locomotive.
  
  
• cress () A perennial cruciferous herb (Nasturtium officinale) growing usually in clear running or spring water. The leaves are pungent, and used for salad and as an antiscorbutic.
  
  
• crow () The dipper.
  
  
• crow () The European coot.
  
  
• crowfoot () An aquatic kind of buttercup (Ranunculus aquatilis), used as food for cattle in parts of England.
  
  
• cure () Hydropathy.
  
  
• cure () A hydropathic institution.
  
  
• deck () A covering of painting canvas for the equipments of a dragoon's horse.
  
  
• deer () A small Chinese deer (Hydropotes inermis). Both sexes are destitute of antlers, but the male has large, descending canine tusks.
  
  
• deer () The water chevrotain.
  
  
• deerlet () See Water chevrotain.
  
  
• devil () The rapacious larva of a large water beetle (Hydrophilus piceus), and of other similar species. See Illust. of Water beetle.
  
  
• dock () A tall, coarse dock growing in wet places. The American water dock is Rumex orbiculatus, the European is R. Hydrolapathum.
  
  
• doctor () One who professes to be able to divine diseases by inspection of the urine.
  
  
• doctor () A physician who treats diseases with water; an hydropathist.
  
  
• dog () A dog accustomed to the water, or trained to retrieve waterfowl. Retrievers, waters spaniels, and Newfoundland dogs are so trained.
  
  
• dog () The menobranchus.
  
  
• dog () A small floating cloud, supposed to indicate rain.
  
  
• dog () A sailor, esp. an old sailor; an old salt.
  
  
• drain () A drain or channel for draining off water.
  
  
• drainage () The draining off of water.
  
  
• dressing () The treatment of wounds or ulcers by the application of water; also, a dressing saturated with water only, for application to a wound or an ulcer.
  
  
• dropwort () A European poisonous umbelliferous plant (Enanthe fistulosa) with large hollow stems and finely divided leaves.
  
  
• eagle () The osprey.
  
  
• elder () The guelder-rose.
  
  
• elephant () The hippopotamus.
  
  
• engine () An engine to raise water; or an engine moved by water; also, an engine or machine for extinguishing fires; a fire engine.
  
  
• feather () Alt. of Water feather-foil
  
  
• feather-foil () The water violet (Hottonia palustris); also, the less showy American plant H. inflata.
  
  
• flag () A European species of Iris (Iris Pseudacorus) having bright yellow flowers.
  
  
• flannel () A floating mass formed in pools by the entangled filaments of a European fresh-water alga (Cladophora crispata).
  
  
• flea () Any one of numerous species of small aquatic Entomostraca belonging to the genera Cyclops, Daphnia, etc; -- so called because they swim with sudden leaps, or starts.
  
  
• flounder () The windowpane (Pleuronectes maculatus).
  
  
• fox () The carp; -- so called on account of its cunning.
  
  
• frame () A name given to the first power spinning machine, because driven by water power.
  
  
• furrow () A deep furrow for conducting water from the ground, and keeping the surface soil dry.
  
  
• gage () See Water gauge.
  
  
• gall () A cavity made in the earth by a torrent of water; a washout.
  
  
• gall () A watery appearance in the sky, accompanying the rainbow; a secondary or broken rainbow.
  
  
• gang () A passage for water, such as was usually made in a sea wall, to drain water out of marshes.
  
  
• gas () See under Gas.
  
  
• gate () A gate, or valve, by which a flow of water is permitted, prevented, or regulated.
  
  
• gauge () A wall or bank to hold water back.
  
  
• gauge () An instrument for measuring or ascertaining the depth or quantity of water, or for indicating the height of its surface, as in the boiler of a steam engine. See Gauge.
  
  
• gavel () A gavel or rent paid for a privilege, as of fishing, in some river or water.
  
  
• germander () A labiate plant (Teucrium Scordium) found in marshy places in Europe.
  
  
• gilding () The act, or the process, of gilding metallic surfaces by covering them with a thin coating of amalgam of gold, and then volatilizing the mercury by heat; -- called also wash gilding.
  
  
• glass () See Soluble glass, under Glass.
  
  
• god () A fabulous deity supposed to dwell in, and preside over, some body of water.
  
  
• gruel () A liquid food composed of water and a small portion of meal, or other farinaceous substance, boiled and seasoned.
  
  
• hammer () A vessel partly filled with water, exhausted of air, and hermetically sealed. When reversed or shaken, the water being unimpeded by air, strikes the sides in solid mass with a sound like that of a hammer.
  
  
• hammer () A concussion, or blow, made by water in striking, as against the sides of a pipe or vessel containing it.
  
  
• hare () A small American hare or rabbit (Lepus aquaticus) found on or near the southern coasts of the United States; -- called also water rabbit, and swamp hare.
  
  
• hemlock () A poisonous umbelliferous plant (Cicuta virosa) of Europe; also, any one of several plants of that genus.
  
  
• hemlock () A poisonous plant (/nanthe crocata) resembling the above.
  
  
• hemp () See under Hemp.
  
  
• hen () Any gallinule.
  
  
• hen () The common American coot.
  
  
• hog () The capybara.
  
  
• horehound () Bugleweed.
  
  
• hyacinth () Either of several tropical aquatic plants of the genus Eichhornia, related to the pickerel weed.
  
  
• ice () Water flavored, sweetened, and frozen, to be eaten as a confection.
  
  
• inch () Same as Inch of water, under Water.
  
  
• joint () A joint in a stone pavement where the stones are left slightly higher than elsewhere, the rest of the surface being sunken or dished. The raised surface is intended to prevent the settling of water in the joints.
  
  
• junket () The common sandpiper.
  
  
• laverock () The common sandpiper.
  
  
• leg () See Leg, 7.
  
  
• lemon () The edible fruit of two species of passion flower (Passiflora laurifolia, and P. maliformis); -- so called in the West Indies.
  
  
• lettuce () A plant (Pistia stratiotes) which floats on tropical waters, and forms a rosette of spongy, wedge-shaped leaves.
  
  
• level () The level formed by the surface of still water.
  
  
• level () A kind of leveling instrument. See under Level, n.
  
  
• lily () A blossom or plant of any species of the genus Nymphaea, distinguished for its large floating leaves and beautiful flowers. See Nymphaea.
  
  
• lime () Hydraulic lime.
  
  
• line () Any one of certain lines of a vessel, model, or plan, parallel with the surface of the water at various heights from the keel.
  
  
• line () Any one of several lines marked upon the outside of a vessel, corresponding with the surface of the water when she is afloat on an even keel. The lowest line indicates the vessel's proper submergence when not loaded, and is called the light water line; the highest, called the load water line, indicates her proper submergence when loaded.
  
  
• lizard () Any aquatic lizard of the genus Varanus, as the monitor of the Nile. See Monitor, n., 3.
  
  
• locust () A thorny leguminous tree (Gleditschia monosperma) which grows in the swamps of the Mississippi valley.
  
  
• meadow () A meadow, or piece of low, flat land, capable of being kept in a state of fertility by being overflowed with water from some adjoining river or stream.
  
  
• measure () A measure formerly used for articles brought by water, as coals, oysters, etc. The water-measure bushel was three gallons larger than the Winchester bushel.
  
  
• measurer () Any one of numerous species of water; the skater. See Skater, n., 2.
  
  
• meter () A contrivance for measuring a supply of water delivered or received for any purpose, as from a street main.
  
  
• milfoil () Any plant of the genus Myriophyllum, aquatic herbs with whorled leaves, the submersed ones pinnately parted into capillary divisions.
  
  
• mill () A mill whose machinery is moved by water; -- distinguished from a windmill, and a steam mill.
  
  
• mint () A kind of mint (Mentha aquatica) growing in wet places, and sometimes having a perfume resembling bergamot.
  
  
• mite () Any of numerous species of aquatic mites belonging to Hydrachna and allied genera of the family Hydrachnidae, usually having the legs fringed and adapted for swimming. They are often red or red and black in color, and while young are parasites of fresh-water insects and mussels. Called also water tick, and water spider.
  
  
• moccasin () A venomous North American snake (Ancistrodon piscivorus) allied to the rattlesnake but destitute of a rattle. It lives in or about pools and ponds, and feeds largely of fishes. Called also water snake, water adder, water viper.
  
  
• mole () The shrew mole. See under Shrew.
  
  
• mole () The duck mole. See under Duck.
  
  
• monitor () A very large lizard (Varanaus salvator) native of India. It frequents the borders of streams and swims actively. It becomes five or six feet long. Called also two-banded monitor, and kabaragoya. The name is also applied to other aquatic monitors.
  
  
• motor () A water engine.
  
  
• motor () A water wheel; especially, a small water wheel driven by water from a street main.
  
  
• mouse () Any one of several species of mice belonging to the genus Hydromys, native of Australia and Tasmania. Their hind legs are strong and their toes partially webbed. They live on the borders of streams, and swim well. They are remarkable as being the only rodents found in Australia.
  
  
• murrain () A kind of murrain affecting cattle.
  
  
• newt () Any one of numerous species of aquatic salamanders; a triton.
  
  
• nymph () A goddess of any stream or other body of water, whether one of the Naiads, Nereids, or Oceanides.
  
  
• nymph () A water lily (Nymphaea).
  
  
• oat () Indian rice. See under Rice.
  
  
• opossum () See Yapock, and the Note under Opossum.
  
  
• ordeal () Same as Ordeal by water. See the Note under Ordeal, n., 1.
  
  
• ousel () Alt. of Water ouzel
  
  
• ouzel () Any one of several species of small insessorial birds of the genus Cinclus (or Hydrobates), especially the European water ousel (C. aquaticus), and the American water ousel (C. Mexicanus). These birds live about the water, and are in the habit of walking on the bottom of streams beneath the water in search of food.
  
  
• parsnip () Any plant of the aquatic umbelliferous genus Sium, poisonous herbs with pinnate or dissected leaves and small white flowers.
  
  
• partridge () The ruddy duck.
  
  
• pennywort () Marsh pennywort. See under Marsh.
  
  
• pepper () Smartweed.
  
  
• pepper () Waterwort.
  
  
• pheasant () The pintail. See Pintail, n., 1.
  
  
• pheasant (n.) The goosander.
  
  
• pheasant (n.) The hooded merganser.
  
  
• piet () The water ousel.
  
  
• pig () The capybara.
  
  
• pig () The gourami.
  
  
• pillar () A waterspout.
  
  
• pimpernel () A small white-flowered shrub; brookweed.
  
  
• pipe () A pipe for conveying water.
  
  
• pitcher () A pitcher for water.
  
  
• pitcher () One of a family of plants having pitcher-shaped leaves. The sidesaddle flower (Sarracenia purpurea) is the type.
  
  
• plant () A plant that grows in water; an aquatic plant.
  
  
• plantain () A kind of plant with acrid leaves. See under 2d Plantain.
  
  
• plate () A plate heated by hot water contained in a double bottom or jacket.
  
  
• poa () Meadow reed grass. See under Reed.
  
  
• poise () A hydrometer.
  
  
• pore () A pore by which the water tubes of various invertebrates open externally.
  
  
• pore () One of certain minute pores in the leaves of some plants. They are without true guardian cells, but in other respects closely resemble ordinary stomata.
  
  
• power () The power of water employed to move machinery, etc.
  
  
• power () A fall of water which may be used to drive machinery; a site for a water mill; a water privilege.
  
  
• pox () A variety of chicken pox, or varicella.
  
  
• privilege () The advantage of using water as a mechanical power; also, the place where water is, or may be, so used. See under Privilege.
  
  
• purslane () See under Purslane.
  
  
• qualm () See Water brash, under Brash.
  
  
• rabbit () See Water hare.
  
  
• radish () A coarse yellow-flowered plant (Nasturtium amphibium) related to the water cress and to the horse-radish.
  
  
• rail () Any one of numerous species of rails of the genus Rallus, as the common European species (Rallus aquaticus). See Illust. of Rail.
  
  
• ram () An hydraulic ram.
  
  
• rat () The water vole. See under Vole.
  
  
• rat () The muskrat.
  
  
• rat () The beaver rat. See under Beaver.
  
  
• rat () A thief on the water; a pirate.
  
  
• rate () A rate or tax for a supply of water.
  
  
• rattle () Alt. of Water rattler
  
  
• rattler () The diamond rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus); -- so called from its preference for damp places near water.
  
  
• rice () Indian rice. See under Rice.
  
  
• rocket () A cruciferous plant (Nasturtium sylvestre) with small yellow flowers.
  
  
• rocket () A kind of firework to be discharged in the water.
  
  
• sail () A small sail sometimes set under a studding sail or under a driver boom, and reaching nearly to the water.
  
  
• sapphire () A deep blue variety of iolite, sometimes used as a gem; -- called also saphir d'eau.
  
  
• scorpion () See Nepa.
  
  
• screw () A screw propeller.
  
  
• shield () An aquatic American plant (Brasenia peltata) having floating oval leaves, and the covered with a clear jelly.
  
  
• shrew () Any one of several species of shrews having fringed feet and capable of swimming actively. The two common European species (Crossopus fodiens, and C. ciliatus) are the best known. The most common American water shrew, or marsh shrew (Neosorex palustris), is rarely seen, owing to its nocturnal habits.
  
  
• snail () Any aquatic pulmonate gastropod belonging to Planorbis, Limnaea, and allied genera; a pond snail.
  
  
• snail () The Archimedean screw.
  
  
• snake () A common North American colubrine snake (Tropidonotus sipedon) which lives chiefly in the water.
  
  
• snake () Any species of snakes of the family Homalopsidae, all of which are aquatic in their habits.
  
  
• soldier () An aquatic European plant (Stratiotes aloides) with bayonet-shaped leaves.
  
  
• souchy () A dish consisting of small fish stewed and served in a little water.
  
  
• spaniel () A curly-haired breed of spaniels, naturally very fond of the water.
  
  
• sparrow () The reed warbler.
  
  
• sparrow () The reed bunting.
  
  
• speedwell () A kind of speedwell (Veronica Anagallis) found in wet places in Europe and America.
  
  
• spider () An aquatic European spider (Argyoneta aquatica) which constructs its web beneath the surface of the water on water plants. It lives in a bell-shaped structure of silk, open beneath like a diving bell, and filled with air which the spider carries down in the form of small bubbles attached one at a time to the spinnerets and hind feet. Called also diving spider.
  
  
• spider () A water mite.
  
  
• spider () Any spider that habitually lives on or about the water, especially the large American species (Dolomedes lanceolatus) which runs rapidly on the surface of water; -- called also raft spider.
  
  
• spinner () The water spider.
  
  
• sprite () A sprite, or spirit, imagined as inhabiting the water.
  
  
• star grass () An aquatic plant (Schollera graminea) with grassy leaves, and yellow star-shaped blossoms.
  
  
• starwort () See under Starwort.
  
  
• supply () A supply of water; specifically, water collected, as in reservoirs, and conveyed, as by pipes, for use in a city, mill, or the like.
  
  
• tabby () A kind of waved or watered tabby. See Tabby, n., 1.
  
  
• table () A molding, or other projection, in the wall of a building, to throw off the water, -- generally used in the United States for the first table above the surface of the ground (see Table, n., 9), that is, for the table at the top of the foundation and the beginning of the upper wall.
  
  
• thermometer () A thermometer filled with water instead of mercury, for ascertaining the precise temperature at which water attains its maximum density. This is about 39¡ Fahr., or 4¡ Centigrade; and from that point down to 32¡ Fahr., or 0¡ Centigrade, or the freezing point, it expands.
  
  
• thief () A pirate.
  
  
• thrush () A North American bird of the genus Seiurus, belonging to the Warbler family, especially the common species (S. Noveboracensis).
  
  
• thrush () The European water ousel.
  
  
• thrush () The pied wagtail.
  
  
• thyme () See Anacharis.
  
  
• tick () Same as Water mite.
  
  
• tiger () A diving, or water, beetle, especially the larva of a water beetle. See Illust. b of Water beetle.
  
  
• torch () The common cat-tail (Typha latifolia), the spike of which makes a good torch soaked in oil.
  
  
• tower () A large metal pipe made to be extended vertically by sections, and used for discharging water upon burning buildings.
  
  
• tree () A climbing shrub (Tetracera alnifolia, / potatoria) of Western Africa, which pours out a watery sap from the freshly cut stems.
  
  
• trefoil () The buck bean.
  
  
• tube () One of a system of tubular excretory organs having external openings, found in many invertebrates. They are believed to be analogous in function to the kidneys of vertebrates. See Illust. under Trematodea, and Sporocyst.
  
  
• tupelo () A species of large tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) growing in swamps in the southern of the United States. See Ogeechee lime.
  
  
• turkey () The American snakebird. See Snakebird.
  
  
• tu tuyere () A tuyere kept cool by water circulating within a casing. It is used for hot blast.
  
  
• tu twist () Yarn made by the throstle, or water frame.
  
  
• vine () Any plant of the genus Phytocrene, climbing shrubs of Asia and Africa, the stems of which are singularly porous, and when cut stream with a limpid potable juice.
  
  
• violet () See under Violet.
  
  
• viper () See Water moccasin.
  
  
• vole () See under Vole.
  
  
• wagtail () See under Wagtail.
  
  
• way () Same as Water course.
  
  
• wheel () Any wheel for propelling machinery or for other purposes, that is made to rotate by the direct action of water; -- called an overshot wheel when the water is applied at the top, an undershot wheel when at the bottom, a breast wheel when at an intermediate point; other forms are called reaction wheel, vortex wheel, turbine wheel, etc.
  
  
• wheel () The paddle wheel of a steam vessel.
  
  
• wheel () A wheel for raising water; a noria, or the like.
  
  
• willow () An American aquatic plant (Dianthera Americana) with long willowlike leaves, and spikes of small purplish flowers.
  
  
• wing () One of two walls built on either side of the junction of a bridge with the bank of a river, to protect the abutment of the bridge and the bank from the action of the current.
  
  
• witch () The dabchick.
  
  
• witch () The stormy petrel.