Oxford Basic American Dictionary

The soldier was keeping watch at the gate.

Wa .ter 1 Ф / vvotoг/ noun [ noncount ] the liquid that is in rivers, lakes, and oceans I'd like a glass of water.

After the heavy rain a lot of the fields were under water .

wa • ter 2 / ' wotar / verb ( wa . ters , wa . ter . ing , wa . tered )

to give water to plants Did you water the plants?

(used about the eyes or mouth) to fill with liquid The smoke made my eyes water.

The food smelled so good that it made my mouth water.

wa • ter • col • or / ' wotarkAlar / noun

( ART )

watercolors [ plural ] paints that you mix with water

[ count ] a picture that you paint with watercolors

wa • ter cool • er / 'wotar |kular / noun [count]

a machine that you can get cold drinking water from, for example in an office

wa • ter • fall

/ ' wotarfol / noun [count]

( GEOGRAPHY ) a place where water falls from a high place to a low place

wa • ter • front / ' wotarfrAnt / [ count , usually singular ]

a part of a town or an area that is next to an ocean, a river, or a lake

a waterfront apartment

wa • ter • ing can / ' wotang k®n / noun

[ count ]

a container that you use for watering plants

wa • ter • mel • on / ' wotsr|melsn / noun

[ count ]

a big, round fruit with a thick, green skin. It is pink inside with a lot of black seeds.

wa • ter • proof / ' wotsrpruf / adjective

If something is waterproof , it does not let water go through it

a waterproof jacket

wa • ter • ski • ing / ' wotsrskiig / noun [ noncount ]

( SPORTS ) the sport of moving fast over water on long boards (called waterski s ), pulled by a boat

watt / wat / noun [ count ] ( abbreviation W ) ( PHYSICS ) a unit of electrical power a 60-watt light bulb

wave 1 Ф / weiv/ noun [ count ]

( GEOGRAPHY ) one of the high lines of water that moves across the top of the ocean

Waves crashed against the cliffs.

a sudden increase of a feeling or type of behavior There was a wave of sympathy for the victims.

a movement of your hand from side to side in the air to say hello or goodbye, or to make a sign to someone

With a wave of his hand, he said good night and left the room.

a gentle curve in hair — Look at wavy .

( PHYSICS ) the form that some types of energy such as heat, light, and sound take

radio waves

wave 2®/ weiv / verb ( waves , wav - ing , waved )

to move your hand from side to side in the air to say hello or goodbye, or to make a sign to someone

She waved to me as the train left the station. Who are you waving at ?

to move something quickly from side to side in the air The children waved flags as the mayor rode past.

to move up and down or from side to side The flags were waving in the wind.

wave • length / ' weivie₄e / noun [ count ]

( PHYSICS ) the size of a radio wave that a particular radio station uses to send out its programs be on the same wavelength ( informal )

to have the same way of thinking as another person

We get along OK, but we're not really on the same

wavelength.

wavelength

wav • y / ' weivi / adjective ( wav - i - er , wav - i - est )

having curves; not straight a wavy line

She has wavy black hair. — Look at the picture at hair , line .

wavelength

wax / wreks / noun [ noncount ]

the substance that is used for making candles (= tall sticks that you burn to give light ) or for making things shine I bought wax for the floor.

Way Ф / wei / noun ( plural ways )

[ count ] a method or style of doing something What is the best way to learn a language?

He smiled in a friendly way.

[ count , usually singular ] a road or path that you must follow to go to a place