water

/ˈwɔːtər/
transparent liquid essential for life

Plants need water to grow.

Plants require the liquid for healthy development.


formal

A clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid essential for all known forms of life.

Humans can survive only a few days without water.

The human body requires regular intake of the liquid to function.

The chemical formula is H₂O. Water covers about 71% of Earth's surface.

informal

To pour or supply water onto something.

She waters the plants every morning.

She adds liquid to the plants daily to keep them healthy.

Commonly used in gardening and agriculture.

formal

A body of water such as a lake, river, or sea.

We sailed across the open water.

We traveled across the sea without land in sight.

Often used in geographical or nautical contexts.

Medicine
technical

A solution or liquid containing a specified substance.

The nurse prepared a saline water for the patient.

The nurse made a salt solution for intravenous use.

In medicine, 'water' often refers to sterile solutions.

Collocations

drink waterconsumir aguafresh wateragua dulcehot wateragua calientewater bottlebotella de aguawater supplysuministro de agua

Related Phrases

water under the bridgeidiom
past events that cannot be changed
hold waterphrasal verb
to be logical or valid
water downphrasal verb
to dilute or make less strong

Pro Tip

Countable vs. Uncountable

Use 'water' as uncountable for the liquid (e.g., 'I drink water daily'). Use 'waters' for bodies of water (e.g., 'The ship sailed into international waters').

Gold Rule

Stress in Compound Words

In compound nouns like 'waterfall' or 'waterproof,' the stress is on the first syllable ('WAT-er-fall').

Word Origin

From Old English wæter, from Proto-Germanic *watōr, from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (water, liquid). Cognates include Dutch water, German Wasser, and Swedish vatten.

Usage Notes

The word 'water' is uncountable in its primary sense (e.g., 'We need water to live') but can be countable when referring to bodies of water (e.g., 'The Great Lakes are large waters').

Word Breakdown

water
the liquid itself
root
English Dictionary