\Wa"ter\ (w[add]"t[~e]r), n. [AS. w[ae]ter; akin to OS.
watar, OFries. wetir, weter, LG. & D. water, G. wasser, OHG.
wazzar, Icel. vatn, Sw. vatten, Dan. vand, Goth. wat[=o], O.
Slav. & Russ. voda, Gr. 'y`dwr, Skr. udan water, ud to wet,
and perhaps to L. unda wave. [root]137. Cf. {Dropsy},
{Hydra}, {Otter}, {Wet}, {Whisky}.]
1. The fluid which descends from the clouds in rain, and
   which forms rivers, lakes, seas, etc. ``We will drink
   water.'' --Shak. ``Powers of fire, air, water, and
   earth.'' --Milton.

Note: Pure water consists of hydrogen and oxygen, {H2O}, and
      is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, transparent
      liquid, which is very slightly compressible. At its
      maximum density, 39[deg] Fahr. or 4[deg] C., it is the
      standard for specific gravities, one cubic centimeter
      weighing one gram. It freezes at 32[deg] Fahr. or
      0[deg] C. and boils at 212[deg] Fahr. or 100[deg] C.
      (see {Ice}, {Steam}). It is the most important natural
      solvent, and is frequently impregnated with foreign
      matter which is mostly removed by distillation; hence,
      rain water is nearly pure. It is an important
      ingredient in the tissue of animals and plants, the
      human body containing about two thirds its weight of
      water.

2. A body of water, standing or flowing; a lake, river, or
   other collection of water.

         Remembering he had passed over a small water a poor
         scholar when first coming to the university, he
         kneeled.                              --Fuller.

3. Any liquid secretion, humor, or the like, resembling
   water; esp., the urine.

4. (Pharm.) A solution in water of a gaseous or readily
   volatile substance; as, ammonia water. --U. S. Pharm.

5. 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.

6. 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}.

7. 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.'' [Brokers' Cant]

Note: Water is often used adjectively and in the formation of
      many self-explaining compounds; as, water drainage;
      water gauge, or water-gauge; waterfowl, water-fowl, or
      water fowl; water-beaten; water-borne, water-circled,
      water-girdled, water-rocked, etc.

{Hard water}. See under {Hard}.

{Inch of water}, a unit of measure of quantity of water,
   being the quantity which will flow through an orifice one
   inch square, or a circular orifice one inch in diameter,
   in a vertical surface, under a stated constant head; also
   called {miner's inch}, and {water inch}. The shape of the
   orifice and the head vary in different localities. In the
   Western United States, for hydraulic mining, the standard
   aperture is square and the head from 4 to 9 inches above
   its center. In Europe, for experimental hydraulics, the
   orifice is usually round and the head from 1/2 of an inch
   to 1 inch above its top.

{Mineral water}, waters which are so impregnated with foreign
   ingredients, such as gaseous, sulphureous, and saline
   substances, as to give them medicinal properties, or a
   particular flavor or temperature.

{Soft water}, water not impregnated with lime or mineral
   salts.

{To hold water}. See under {Hold}, v. t.

{To keep one's head above water}, to keep afloat; fig., to
   avoid failure or sinking in the struggles of life.
   [Colloq.]

{To make water}.
   (a) To pass urine. --Swift.
   (b) (Naut.) To admit water; to leak.

{Water of crystallization} (Chem.), the water combined with
   many salts in their crystalline form. This water is
   loosely, but, nevertheless, chemically, combined, for it
   is held in fixed and definite amount for each substance
   containing it. Thus, while pure copper sulphate, {CuSO4},
   is a white amorphous substance, blue vitriol, the
   crystallized form, {CuSO4.5H2O}, contains five molecules
   of water of crystallization.

{Water on the brain} (Med.), hydrocephalus.

{Water on the chest} (Med.), hydrothorax.

Note: Other phrases, in which water occurs as the first
      element, will be found in alphabetical order in the
      Vocabulary.

\Wa"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Watered}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Watering}.] [AS. w[ae]terian, gew[ae]terian.]
1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with
   water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.

         With tears watering the ground.       --Milton.

         Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the
         woodlands.                            --Longfellow.

2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to
   drink; as, to water cattle and horses.

3. 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.

4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity
   or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend;
   to dilute; to weaken.

{To water stock}, to increase the capital stock of a company
   by issuing new stock, thus diminishing the value of the
   individual shares. Cf. {Water}, n., 7. [Brokers' Cant]

\Wa"ter\, v. i.
1. To shed, secrete, or fill with, water or liquid matter;
   as, his eyes began to water.

         If thine eyes can water for his death. --Shak.

2. To get or take in water; as, the ship put into port to
   water.

{The mouth waters}, a phrase denoting that a person or animal
   has a longing desire for something, since the sight of
   food often causes one who is hungry to have an increased
   flow of saliva.