| 释义 |
wa·ter
I. \ˈwȯ]d.ə(r), ˈwä], ]tə(r)\ noun
(-s)
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wæter; akin to Old High German wazzar water, Old Norse vatn, Gothic wato water, Latin unda wave, Greek hydōr water, Sanskrit udan
1.
a. : the liquid that descends from the clouds as rain, forms streams, lakes, and seas, issues from the ground in springs, and is a major constituent of all living matter and that when pure consists of an oxide of hydrogen H2O or (H2O)x in the proportion of 2 atoms of hydrogen to one atom of oxygen and is an odorless, tasteless, very slightly compressible liquid which appears bluish in thick layers, freezes at 0° C and boils at 100° C, has a maximum density at 4° C and a high specific heat, contains very small equal concentrations of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions, reacts neutrally, and constitutes a poor conductor of electricity, a good ionizing agent, and a good solvent — compare heavy water, ice, steam, water vapor
b.
(1) : a natural mineral water — usually used in plural
< drank the waters for rheumatism >
(2) archaic : a place (as a spa) purveying such waters for remedial purposes : watering place
2. : a particular quantity or mass of water: as
a. : a portion of water to drink
< brought her water in a silver cup >
b.
(1) waters plural : the water occupying or flowing in a particular bed
< the limpid waters of a mountain brook >
(2) chiefly Britain : a body of still fresh water : lake, pond, pool
(3) chiefly Scotland : stream, river; also : land abutting a stream : the bank of a stream
c. : a portion of water for a particular use — usually used in plural
< wash the greens in three waters >
d. : a quantity or depth of water adequate for some purpose (as navigation)
< a boat drawing three feet of water >
< there is water for trout >
e. waters plural
(1) : a band of seawater abutting on the land of a particular sovereignty and under the control of that sovereignty : the marine territorial waters of a state
< an invasion of British waters >
(2) : the sea of a particular part of the earth
< the fleet was in eastern waters >
f. : a water supply
< threatened to turn off the water >
< our water was from springs >
3. : a means of transport on water or travel or transportation by such
< we went by water >
< they came by air but sent their heavy baggage by water >
4. : the level of water at a particular state of the tide : tide
< waiting for low water >
< high water was at six o'clock >
5. : any of various liquid preparations containing or resembling water: as
a.
(1) : a liquid (as a pharmaceutical or cosmetic preparation) prepared (as by solution or infusion) with water — compare florida water, lavender water, toilet water
(2) : a watery solution of a gaseous or readily volatile substance — compare ammonia water, camphor water
b. archaic : a distilled fluid (as an essence); especially : a distilled alcoholic liquor
c. obsolete : a strong acid; especially : nitric acid
6. : a liquid (as a secretion, effusion, or humor) formed in or circulating in a living body: as
a. : tears
< a blow that brought the water to his eyes >
b. : urine
< passed a bloody water >
c. : a plant juice or other plant fluid; especially : coconut milk
d. : saliva
< the smell of fresh bread brought the water to his mouth >
e. : amniotic fluid
< a dry birth with little water >
— usually used with the and in plural
< after the waters broke the labor was brief >
7.
a. : the limpidity and luster of a precious stone and especially a diamond
< a diamond of the first water is perfectly clear and transparent >
— compare river 3
b. : an indicated and usually exceptional degree of some quality (as excellence or villainy)
< a fool of the purest water >
c. : a wavy lustrous pattern (as of a textile or metal surface)
< a shimmering water played along the supple blade >
8. : watercolor; especially : a picture done in watercolor
9.
a. : capital stock not representing assets of the issuing company and not backed by earning power
b. : fictitious or exaggerated asset entries (as for goodwill or other intangibles or for mining claims or other speculative or undeveloped assets) that give a stock an unrealistic book value
•
- above water
- in smooth water
- on the water
II. verb
(-ed/-ing/-s)
Etymology: Middle English wateren, from Old English wæterian, from wæter, n.
transitive verb
1. : to wet or supply with water or watery fluid : moisten, sprinkle, or soak with water : overflow with water : irrigate
< water flowers >
< rain watering the soil >
< with tears watering the ground — John Milton >
2. : to supply (as an army or ship) with water for drink : cause or allow to drink : give drink to or lead to a stream of water or other drinking place
< water cattle and horses >
3. : to supply water to (as through the soil)
< land or vegetation watered by the Missouri >
: supply (as a boiler or engine) with water
4. archaic : to embrace within a surrounding or protecting stream, moat, or body of water
< a city watered about >
5. : to treat with or as if with water: as
a. obsolete : to soak in water (as for softening, macerating, or freshening)
b. : to sprinkle or drench so as to impregnate with water or a solution
c. : to impart a lustrous appearance and wavy pattern to (cloth) by calendering
d. : to spray or sprinkle (as a roadway) with water to lay dust
e. : to flood (as a ship in a lock) with water at the base for lifting
6.
a. : to make dilute by or as if by the addition of water
< watering the wine to make it last >
— sometimes used with down
b. : to reduce by addition or change usually so as to weaken in force or efficacy : temper or soften in pungency, vigor, or positiveness — usually used with down
< watered down his remarks >
< took care to water his radicalism down in public >
c.
(1) : to cause (oysters) to swell by soaking in water
(2) : to cause (livestock) to put on specious weight by salting and watering heavily before marketing
d. : to add to the aggregate par value of (stock or other securities) without a corresponding addition to the assets represented by the security
intransitive verb
1. : to form or secrete water or watery matter: as
a. : to produce or shed tears
< eyes watering from the smoke >
b. : to secrete or become filled with saliva usually in anticipation of food
< mouths watered as we waited for dinner >
2. : to get or take water: as
a. : to take on a supply of water
< the boat docked to water >
b. : to drink water : take a drink of water — usually used of lower animals
< lions watering at dusk > |