waters
waters Lexical Profile
waters Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Areas of sea, ocean, or lake regarded as under the jurisdiction of a particular country or forming a distinct geographical body.
"The research vessel was granted permission to conduct marine surveys in international waters."
A state of affairs or an unfamiliar, difficult, or precarious situation, often used figuratively.
"The sudden shift in market regulations left the small firm navigating uncharted waters."
The amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the womb, especially as discharged shortly before or during childbirth.
"The midwife advised her to come to the hospital as soon as her waters broke."
Mineral water from a natural spring or spa, historically drunk or bathed in for therapeutic purposes.
"Nineteenth-century aristocrats frequently traveled to Bath to take the waters for their health."
• verb
To pour or sprinkle water over a plant or area of ground in order to encourage growth (third-person singular simple present of water).
"She waters the tomato plants every evening during the dry summer months."
To secrete tears or saliva as a result of irritation, emotion, or appetite (third-person singular simple present of water).
"His mouth waters whenever he walks past the neighborhood bakery in the morning."
To give a drink of water to an animal, or to lead livestock to a source of drinking water (third-person singular simple present of water).
"The rancher feeds and waters the horses before sunrise each day."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'water' is ordinarily an uncountable mass noun, the plural 'waters' is used specifically for territorial seas, natural mineral springs, amniotic fluid, or figurative realms of difficulty.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'wæter', of Proto-Germanic origin (related to Dutch 'water' and German 'Wasser'), ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'wet'.