from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Water \Wa"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Watered}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Watering}.] [AS. w[ae]terian, gew[ae]terian.]
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1. To wet or supply with water; to moisten; to overflow with
water; to irrigate; as, to water land; to water flowers.
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With tears watering the ground. --Milton.
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Men whose lives gilded on like rivers that water the
woodlands. --Longfellow.
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2. To supply with water for drink; to cause or allow to
drink; as, to water cattle and horses.
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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.
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4. To add water to (anything), thereby extending the quantity
or bulk while reducing the strength or quality; to extend;
to dilute; to weaken.
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{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]
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