waterworks
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See also: water works and water-works
English[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɔːtəˌwəːks/
Audio (RP) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˈwɔtɚˌwɚks/, [-ɾɚ-]
Audio (US) (file) - Hyphenation: wa‧ter‧works
Etymology 1[edit]
From water + works (“machine, mechanism; factory or factories”).[1]
Noun[edit]
waterworks pl (plural only)
- The water supply system of a district, town, city, or other place, including reservoirs, pipes, and pumps.
- (treated as singular) Any single facility, such as a filtration plant or pumping station, within such a system.
- She is employed by a waterworks at the outskirts of the city.
- (figuratively)
- (informal) Often in the form turn on the waterworks: crying or tears, especially in a way that is considered manipulative or over-emotional.
- She turned on the waterworks when we told her the old man was dead, but she was asking questions about the will soon enough.
- (informal) Rain.
- (Britain, euphemistic) The genitourinary system.
- Synonym: plumbing (euphemistic, informal)
- (informal) Often in the form turn on the waterworks: crying or tears, especially in a way that is considered manipulative or over-emotional.
- (historical, treated as singular) A hydraulic apparatus by which a supply of water is furnished for ornamental purposes; also, an ornamental fountain or waterfall.
- (construction, archaic) Engineering works relating to the conveyance and flow of fluids (principally water), such as the collection and distribution of water, drainage, irrigation, etc.
Alternative forms[edit]
- waterwork (senses 4 and 5)
- water works
- water-works
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
water supply system of a district, town, city, or other place
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any single facility, such as a filtration plant or pumping station, within such a system
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crying or tears, especially in a way that is considered manipulative or over-emotional
rain — see rain
hydraulic apparatus by which a supply of water is furnished for ornamental purposes
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engineering works relating to the conveyance and flow of fluids (principally water)
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Etymology 2[edit]
Noun[edit]
waterworks
References[edit]
- ^ Compare “waterwork, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2015; “waterwork, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present; “waterworks, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
Further reading[edit]
water supply on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
waterworks (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
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- en:Construction
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- en:Water