water

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The clear liquid that falls as rain and that people and animals need to live.

   Can I have a glass of water, please?

2. 2
   noun

   An area of water such as a river, lake, or sea.

   The boat sailed across the calm waters of the bay.

3. 3
   verb

   To pour water on plants or give water to animals.

   Remember to water the flowers while I'm away.

4. 4
   verb

   To fill with tears or other liquid such as saliva.

   The smell of fresh bread made my mouth water.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Water comes from Old English wæter. Its remote source was probably an unknown word used more than 5,000 years ago by people around the Black Sea. Related forms include German Wasser, Russian voda, and Greek hudōr; the same ancient root also produced English wet and otter and Latin unda, “wave.”

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wed- Proto-Indo-European *-r̥ Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ Proto-Germanic *watōr Proto-West Germanic *watar Old English wæter Middle English water English water From Middle English water, from Old English wæter (“water”), from Proto-West Germanic *watar, from Proto-Germanic *watōr (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (“water”). Cognates * Scots watter (“water”) * Yola wadher, waudher (“water”) * North Frisian waar, weeder, weeter, woar, woor, wååder, wåår (“water”) * Saterland Frisian Woater (“water”) * West Frisian wetter (“water”) * Cimbrian bassar, ba…

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary