waterworks


Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Financial, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

wa·ter·works

 (wô′tər-wûrks′, wŏt′ər-)
pl.n.
1.
a. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The water system, including reservoirs, tanks, buildings, pumps, and pipes, that supplies water to a city, town, or other municipality.
b. (used with a sing. verb) A single unit, such as a pumping station, within such a system.
2. (used with a sing. verb) An exhibition of moving water, such as a fountain or cascade.
3. (used with a pl. verb) Informal Tears: turned on the waterworks.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

waterworks

(ˈwɔːtəˌwɜːks)
n
1. (Civil Engineering) (functioning as singular) an establishment for storing, purifying, and distributing water for community supply
2. (Art Terms) (functioning as plural) a display of water in movement, as in fountains
3. (Physiology) (functioning as plural) informal euphemistic Brit the urinary system, esp with reference to its normal functioning: he has trouble with his waterworks.
4. (Physiology) (functioning as plural) informal crying; tears
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

wa•ter•works

(ˈwɔ tərˌwɜrks, ˈwɒt ər-)

n., pl. -works.
1. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) a complete system of reservoirs, pipelines, conduits, etc., by which water is collected, purified, stored, and pumped to urban users.
2. Sometimes, waterwork. a spectacular display of water, mechanically produced.
3. (used with a sing. or pl. v.) Slang. tears, or the source of tears.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.waterworks - a public utility that provides waterwaterworks - a public utility that provides water
public utility, public utility company, public-service corporation, utility - a company that performs a public service; subject to government regulation
2.waterworks - workplace where water is stored and purified and distributed for a communitywaterworks - workplace where water is stored and purified and distributed for a community
workplace, work - a place where work is done; "he arrived at work early today"
plural, plural form - the form of a word that is used to denote more than one
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
vandværk
vodovod
vízmûvek
vatnshreinsunarstöî
vodáreň
su şebekesi

waterworks

[ˈwɔːtəwɜːks] N
1. (for water purification) → central f depuradora
2. (= tears) to turn on the waterworksecharse a llorar
3. (= urinary tract) → vías fpl urinarias
to have trouble with one's waterworkstener problemas de orina
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

waterworks

[ˈwɔːtərwɜːrks] npl
(= water processing plant) → usine f de retraitement des eaux
(euphemism) (= urinary system) → tuyauterie f
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

waterworks

[ˈwɔːtəˌwɜːks]
1. nsg (place) → impianto idrico
2. (fig) (fam) npl to turn on the waterworkspiangere come una fontana
to have trouble with one's waterworks → avere dei problemi alla vescica
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

water

(ˈwoːtə) noun
a colourless, transparent liquid compound of hydrogen and oxygen, having no taste or smell, which turns to steam when boiled and to ice when frozen. She drank two glasses of water; `Are you going swimming in the sea?' `No, the water's too cold'; Each bedroom in the hotel is supplied with hot and cold running water; (also adjective) The plumber had to turn off the water supply in order to repair the pipe; transport by land and water.
verb
1. to supply with water. He watered the plants.
2. (of the mouth) to produce saliva. His mouth watered at the sight of all the food.
3. (of the eyes) to fill with tears. The dense smoke made his eyes water.
ˈwaters noun plural
a body of water such as the sea, a river etc. the stormy waters of the bay.
ˈwatery adjective
1. like water; diluted. a watery fluid.
2. (of eyes) full of fluid eg because of illness, cold winds etc.
3. (of a colour) pale. eyes of a watery blue.
ˈwateriness noun

water boatman

a water insect with oarlike back legs that propel it through the water.
ˈwaterborne adjective
carried or transmitted by water. Typhoid is a waterborne disease.
ˈwater-closet noun
(abbreviation WC (dabljuˈsiː) ) a lavatory.
ˈwater-colour noun
a type of paint which is thinned with water instead of with oil.
ˈwatercress noun
a herb which grows in water and is often used in salads.
ˈwaterfall noun
a natural fall of water from a height such as a rock or a cliff.
ˈwaterfowl noun or noun plural
a bird or birds which live on or beside water.
ˈwaterfront noun
that part of a town etc which faces the sea or a lake. He lives on the waterfront.
ˈwaterhole noun
a spring or other place where water can be found in a desert or other dry country. The elephant drank from the waterhole.
ˈwatering-can noun
a container used when watering plants.
water level
the level of the surface of a mass of water. The water level in the reservoir is sinking/rising.
ˈwaterlilyplural ˈwaterlilies noun
a water plant with broad flat floating leaves.
ˈwaterlogged adjective
(of ground) soaked in water.
water main
a large underground pipe carrying a public water supply.
ˈwater-melon
a type of melon with green skin and red flesh.
ˈwaterproof adjective
not allowing water to soak through. waterproof material.
noun
a coat made of waterproof material. She was wearing a waterproof.
verb
to make (material) waterproof.
ˈwatershed noun
an area of high land from which rivers flow in different directions into different basins.
ˈwater-skiing noun
the sport of skiing on water, towed by a motor-boat.
ˈwater-ski verb
ˈwatertight adjective
made in such a way that water cannot pass through.
water vapour
water in the form of a gas, produced by evaporation.
ˈwaterway noun
a channel, eg a canal or river, along which ships can sail.
ˈwaterwheel noun
a wheel moved by water to work machinery etc.
ˈwaterworks noun singular or plural
a place in which water is purified and stored before distribution to an area.
hold water
to be convincing. His explanation won't hold water.
in(to) deep water
in(to) trouble or danger. I got into deep water during that argument.
water down
to dilute. This milk has been watered down.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
His passionate eager protestations of love, heard coming out of the darkness by the cemetery wall, or from the deep shadows of the trees on the hill that ran up to the Fair Grounds from Waterworks Pond, were repeated in the stores.
Edmund's Terrace (I waded breast-high across a torrent of water that was rushing down from the waterworks towards the Albert Road), and emerged upon the grass before the rising of the sun.
"We must be," he said, "in the part used more particularly for the waterworks. I see no fire coming from the furnaces."
She shook her head sadly and had, as usual, recourse to the waterworks. She knew what he meant.
The Waterworks, which are on a height near the city, are no less ornamental than useful, being tastefully laid out as a public garden, and kept in the best and neatest order.
Shenge said that the board had taken steps to ensure strict supervision of all waterworks in the state.
SAP recently supports BP Waterworks Inc., an ISO-certified private water service provider, to strengthen its financial information systems and achieve significant gains in providing accurate, insightful, and timely information to the organization's decision-makers and to keep pace with the growing demands of serving and nurturing a growing portfolio of consumers nationwide.
The waterworks of Yahaba in Iwate Prefecture, launched in 1966, now service 96% of the district's population.
RAWALPINDI -- The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has asked Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) to vacate seven houses and 32 shops located on the premises of the Hailey Waterworks on Saidpur Road.
Northumbrian Water's outline bid for 10 homes at its former waterworks on Dock Road in Tweedmouth was initially approved at the July meeting of the North Northumberland Local Area Council.
Securities and Exchange Commission, assigned a 'AAA' rating to the following Lewisville, TX (the city) waterworks and sewer system revenue bonds: --$7.87 million waterworks and sewer system revenue bonds, series 2018.