TKG English Learner's Dictionary

water

waternoun

American /ˈwɔ.tɚ/ British /ˈwɔː.tə/ also (American) /ˈwɑ.tɚ/ in the many American accents that use the same vowel in cot and caught In American English the t between the vowels is a quick, soft sound close to d.
plural waters
very commondefining vocabulary

Water is the clear liquid of rain, rivers, and seas, and the senses name that liquid where it is found, supplied, or swum in.

  1. the liquidthe clear liquid that falls as rain, fills rivers and seas, and that people, animals, and plants need in order to live

    countable or uncountable [C/U] often before another noun [before noun]

    Collocations

    adjective + noun cold water, hot water, warm water, clean water, fresh water, salt water, bottled water, mineral water
    verb + noun drink water, boil water, pour water, add water, heat water, save water
    noun + noun tap water, drinking water, water bottle, water pipe, water tank
    noun + verb water boils, water flows, water freezes, water leaks
    phrase a glass of water, a bottle of water, a drink of water, a drop of water

    Compare liquid (liquid is any substance that flows, such as water, oil, or milk)

  2. sea, lake, riverthe mass of liquid in a sea, lake, river, or pool, thought of as a place where people swim, sail, or fall in

    singular only [sing]

    Collocations

    preposition + noun in the water, into the water, under the water, on the water, by the water, out of the water
    adjective + noun deep water, shallow water, calm water, open water, rough water

  3. a country's watersthe sea near a particular country, or a named or particular part of a sea, lake, or river

    plural only [pl]

    Collocations

    adjective + noun international waters, coastal waters, territorial waters, foreign waters, calm waters, dangerous waters
    noun + preposition the waters of

    For translators (sense 3)

    Grammar trap Plural only in this sense, with a plural verb: these waters are dangerous. The singular water for the liquid is never used this way.

  4. in pipesthe supply that comes to a house or other building through pipes, for drinking, cooking, washing, and heating

    uncountable [U] often before another noun [before noun]

    Collocations

    verb + noun turn on the water, turn off the water, cut off the water, run the water
    adjective + noun hot water, cold water, running water
    noun + noun water bill, water supply, water pressure, water heater, water meter

  5. before a birththe liquid around a baby inside its mother's body, which comes out before or during the birth

    singular only [sing] human body

    Collocations

    noun + verb someone's water breaks

Phrases

be in hot water informal

be in trouble because of something you have done

Also get into hot water, for the moment the trouble begins.

water under the bridge

something that happened in the past and is no longer worth worrying or arguing about

like water off a duck's back

without any effect on the person, who does not seem to notice or care

Said of criticism, complaints, or insults.

hold water

be reasonable enough to be believed

Said of an argument, an excuse, or a story, and almost always in the negative.

tread water

stay in one place in deep water by moving your legs and arms

Also used of a person or a business that keeps going without making any progress: The company has been treading water for years.

test the waters

find out what people think about a plan before you go ahead with it

muddy the waters

make a situation or a question less clear than it was

pour cold water on something

say negative things about a plan or idea so that people lose interest in it

pass water politemedicine

send liquid waste out of the body

A polite phrase used mainly by doctors and nurses.

Word family

  • water (pour water on plants; of the eyes or mouth, fill with liquid)
  • watery
  • waterproof
  • waterfall
  • underwater

Usage

Water is normally uncountable: some water, a glass of water, how much water. In a restaurant or cafe you can order a water or two waters, meaning glasses or bottles of it. The plural waters is a separate sense: the sea near a country, or the water of a named river or lake. In American English a pregnant woman's water breaks; British English uses the plural, her waters break.

Common mistakes

I drank two waters after the run. I drank two glasses of water after the run.
Outside ordering in a restaurant, water is counted by the container: a glass of water, two bottles of water.
There is not much waters left in the bottle. There is not much water left in the bottle.
In the ordinary sense water has no plural; waters means the sea near a country or the water of a named river or lake.

For translators

Meaning across languages English uses one word for the liquid, for a body of it that people swim in, and for the supply that comes through pipes, adding an adjective when it matters: hot water, drinking water, running water. Some languages use separate words for hot and cold water or for drinking water; English adds an adjective instead.
Grammar trap Uncountable in its ordinary use: some water, a glass of water, not a water except when ordering a drink. The plural waters is a separate sense: the sea near a country, or a named part of a sea, lake, or river. Learners whose languages count liquids by the container should note that English names the container: a bottle of water.
Cultural background In many English-speaking countries a restaurant brings free tap water when you ask for water; say bottled water or sparkling water if that is what you want.
Pronunciation trap In American English the t between the vowels is a quick, soft sound close to d, so water sounds like wah-der, and the final r is pronounced. In British English the t is clear and the final r is silent. The stress is on the first syllable.