noun / verb

water

WAW-tur/ˈwɔːtər/

The clear liquid essential to life, composed of hydrogen and oxygen.

Clear water pours from a glass pitcher into a drinking glass.

A clear glass pitcher pours water into a plain drinking glass, with a transparent stream, rippling surface and a few clear droplets making the liquid the focus.

Etymology

Old English wæter already named the familiar substance, so this meaning continues an old everyday use. Ancient conceptions counted water among the basic elements composing everything.

In context

Plainly Difficult366:13

they were flowing water at approximately 40 to 60 US gallons per minute what was strange was that the flow of liquid was clear and not brown in color

ReWind: Year 5 Omnibus of Plainly Difficult

More examples

Bring the water to a boil before adding pasta.
She waters the tomatoes whenever the soil feels dry.
You can water down the juice if it tastes too sweet.
My eyes water when I chop onions.

Forms

water · waters · watered · watering

watery adjective — Containing much water or resembling water.

waterless adjective — Having no water or requiring none.

Similar words

H2O: Names water by its chemical formula, especially in scientific contexts.