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 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]
Water
(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.
Water adder
(Wa"ter ad"der) (Zoöl.) (a) The water moccasin. (b) The common, harmless American
water snake See Illust. under Water Snake.
Waterage
(Wa"ter*age) n. Money paid for transportation of goods, etc., by water. [Eng.]
Water agrimony
(Wa"ter ag"ri*mo*ny) (Bot.) A kind of bur marigold (Bidens tripartita) found in wet places
in Europe.
Water aloe
(Wa"ter al"oe) (Bot.) See Water soldier.
Water antelope
(Wa"ter an"te*lope) See Water buck.
Water arum
(Wa"ter a"rum) (Bot.) An aroid herb (Calla palustris) having a white spathe. It is an inhabitant
of the north temperate zone.
Water back
(Wa"ter back`) See under 1st Back.
Water bailiff
(Wa"ter bail"iff) An officer of the customs, whose duty it is to search vessels. [Eng.]
Water ballast
(Wa"ter bal"last) (Naut.) Water confined in specially constructed compartments in a vessel's
hold, to serve as ballast.
Water barometer
(Wa"ter ba*rom"e*ter) (Physics) A barometer in which the changes of atmospheric
pressure are indicated by the motion of a column of water instead of mercury. It requires a column of
water about thirty-three feet in height.
