Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

water|course /wɔː tə ^r kɔː ^r s/ (watercourses ) also water course N‑COUNT A watercourse is a stream or river, or the channel that it flows along. [FORMAL ]

water|cress /wɔː tə ^r kres/ N‑UNCOUNT Watercress is a small plant with white flowers which grows in streams and pools. Its leaves taste hot and are eaten raw in salads.

wa tered-do wn also watered down

1 ADJ If you describe something such as a proposal, speech, or statement as watered-down , you mean that it is weaker or less forceful than its original form. □  The British government introduced a watered-down version of the proposals.

2 → see also water down

water|fall /wɔː tə ^r fɔːl/ (waterfalls ) N‑COUNT A waterfall is a place where water flows over the edge of a steep, high cliff in hills or mountains, and falls into a pool below. □  …Angel Falls, the world's highest waterfall.

wa |ter fea|ture (water features ) N‑COUNT A water feature is something such as an artificial pond or waterfall, usually in a garden.

water|fowl /wɔː tə ^r faʊl/ (waterfowl ) N‑COUNT Waterfowl are birds that swim in water, especially ducks, geese, and swans.

water|front /wɔː tə ^r frʌnt/ (waterfronts ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A waterfront is a street or piece of land which is next to an area of water, for example a harbour or the sea. □  They went for a stroll along the waterfront.

wa |ter hole (water holes ) also waterhole N‑COUNT In a desert or other dry area, a water hole is a pool of water where animals can drink.

wa |ter|ing can (watering cans ) N‑COUNT A watering can is a container with a long spout which is used to water plants.

wa |ter|ing hole (watering holes ) N‑COUNT You can refer to a pub or bar where people go to drink and meet their friends as a watering hole . □  I was in my favorite watering hole, waiting for the game to start.

wa |ter jump (water jumps ) N‑COUNT A water jump is a fence with a pool of water on the far side of it, which people or horses jump over as part of a race or competition.

wa |ter lily (water lilies ) also waterlily N‑COUNT A water lily is a plant with large flat leaves and colourful flowers which floats on the surface of lakes and rivers.

water|line /wɔː tə ^r la I n/ (waterlines ) also water line N‑COUNT [usu sing] The waterline is a line, either real or imaginary, on the side of a ship representing the level the water reaches when the ship is at sea. □  Ray painted below the waterline with a special anti-rust paint.

water|logged /wɔː tə ^r lɒgd, [AM ] -lɔːgd/ also water-logged ADJ Something such as soil or land that is waterlogged is so wet that it cannot absorb any more water, so that a layer of water remains on its surface. □  The match is off because of a waterlogged pitch.

wa |ter main (water mains ) N‑COUNT A water main is a very large underground pipe used for supplying water to houses and factories.

water|mark /wɔː tə ^r mɑː ^r k/ (watermarks )

1 N‑COUNT A watermark is a design which is put into paper when it is made, and which you can only see if you hold the paper up to the light. Banknotes often have a watermark, to make them harder to copy illegally.

2 → see also high-water mark

wa |ter mead|ow (water meadows ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Water meadows are wet fields of grass near a river, which are often flooded. [mainly BRIT ]

water|melon /wɔː tə ^r melən/ (watermelons ) N‑VAR A watermelon is a large round fruit with green skin, pink flesh, and black seeds.

water|mill /wɔː tə ^r m I l/ (watermills ) also water mill N‑COUNT A watermill is a mill powered by a water wheel.

wa |ter pis|tol (water pistols ) N‑COUNT A water pistol is a small toy gun which shoots out water.

wa |ter polo N‑UNCOUNT Water polo is a game played in a swimming pool in which two teams of swimmers try to score goals with a ball.

water|proof /wɔː tə ^r pruːf/ (waterproofs , waterproofing , waterproofed )