waters

IPA/wˈɔːtəz/
KK[wˈɔtɚz]IPA/wˈɔːtərz/

waters — noun

1. the stretch of sea beside a country that the country has the right to control an

1.nounB2
Definition

the stretch of sea beside a country that the country has the right to control and protect

Example

Foreign boats need a permit before they fish in Japanese waters.

fish in [country] waters

The coast guard followed the trawler after it entered Canadian waters.

enter [country] waters

Common collocations
  • territorial waters
  • international waters
  • coastal waters
  • enter [country] waters

Usage Note

Always plural. Common after a country name or adjectives such as territorial, coastal, or international.

2. the water in a named sea, lake, river, or coastal area, especially when people d

2.nounB2
Definition

the water in a named sea, lake, river, or coastal area, especially when people describe how it looks or feels

Example

The waters of Lake Como looked silver in the morning light.

the waters of [place]

Divers returned early because the coastal waters were too rough.

coastal waters

Common collocations
  • the waters of [place]
  • coastal waters
  • warm waters
  • river waters

Usage Note

Always plural in this meaning. Often follows 'the waters of ...' or an adjective such as warm, dark, or coastal.

3. the liquid around a baby in the womb, especially when people talk about it comin

3.noun
Definition

the liquid around a baby in the womb, especially when people talk about it coming out before birth

Example

Putri's waters broke at home, so her husband drove fast.

waters broke

The nurse said Sofia's waters had broken, but labour was slow.

waters had broken

Common collocations
  • waters break
  • her waters broke
  • amniotic fluid level

Usage Note

Most often heard in the fixed phrase 'your/her waters break' before birth.

Common Mistakes

The doctor checked her waters level.
The doctor checked her amniotic fluid level.
outside the phrase 'waters break', everyday medical English usually says 'amniotic fluid'.

4. used after certain adjectives to picture a situation as risky, confusing, or lik

4.noun
Definition

used after certain adjectives to picture a situation as risky, confusing, or likely to cause trouble

Example

After the merger failed, the company found itself in troubled waters.

in troubled waters

Owen knew he was entering dangerous waters by challenging the mayor.

enter dangerous waters

Common collocations
  • in troubled waters
  • enter dangerous waters
  • in uncharted waters
  • in hot water

Usage Note

Used in set phrases such as in troubled waters, in dangerous waters, and in hot water. Singular water and plural waters both occur depending on the expression.

Common Mistakes

He is in the troubled waters at work.
He is in troubled waters at work.
this idiom normally drops the article before the adjective.

5. natural spring water once used, or believed to be useful, for improving health

5.noun
Definition

natural spring water once used, or believed to be useful, for improving health

Example

In 1890, visitors came to Bath to drink the waters.

drink the waters

Doctors once sent tired soldiers to Wales to take the waters.

take the waters

Common collocations
  • take the waters
  • healing waters
  • spa waters
  • drink the waters

Usage Note

Mostly historical or literary. Often appears with drink, take, or healing.

Common Mistakes

They went to drink waters at the spa.
They went to take the waters at the spa.
this old-fashioned health meaning usually appears in the set phrase 'take the waters'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

For noun/2, waters is a marked plural form used for the water in one named place, often with an adjective or place name: the warm waters of the bay, the dark waters of the river. Plain water is the neutral everyday choice. Sea points to a salt-water area, while ocean is larger and more geographical. River water is practical and factual, but it lacks the descriptive tone of waters. Writers choose waters when the place itself matters or when they want a slightly formal, scenic effect. You can say the waters of Lake Como looked silver, but in ordinary conversation people would more often say the lake water looked silver.

water ↗sea ↗ocean ↗river water

Common collocations

Verbs

Phrases

Adjectives

Prepositions

  • in ... waters
  • into ... waters
  • the waters of ...

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

Waters is the regular plural of water. English inherited water from Old English wæter, part of an older Germanic family of words for this basic liquid. Over time, the plural form developed several special uses of its own. It can refer to sea areas controlled by a country, the water in a particular region, the fluid around an unborn baby, and older health-related uses such as taking the waters. Because of these fixed meanings, waters often sounds more formal, literary, or phrase-bound than plain water.