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hold water

hold wa·ter
H h

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [hohld waw-ter, wot-er]
    • /hoʊld ˈwɔ tər, ˈwɒt ər/
    • /həʊld ˈwɔːtə(r)/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [hohld waw-ter, wot-er]
    • /hoʊld ˈwɔ tər, ˈwɒt ər/

Definitions of hold water words

  • noun hold water a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H 2 O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight. 1
  • noun hold water a special form or variety of this liquid, as rain. 1
  • noun hold water Often, waters. this liquid in an impure state as obtained from a mineral spring: Last year we went to Marienbad for the waters. 1
  • noun hold water the liquid content of a river, inlet, etc., with reference to its relative height, especially as dependent on tide: a difference of 20 feet between high and low water. 1
  • noun hold water the surface of a stream, river, lake, ocean, etc.: above, below, or on the water. 1
  • noun hold water waters. flowing water, or water moving in waves: The river's mighty waters. the sea or seas bordering a particular country or continent or located in a particular part of the world: We left San Diego and sailed south for Mexican waters. 1
See all 48 definitions of hold water

Information block about the term

Origin of hold water

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English wæter; cognate with Dutch water, German Wasser; akin to Old Norse vain, Gothic wato, Hittite watar, Greek hýdōr; (v.) Middle English wateren, Old English wæterian, derivative of the noun

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Hold water

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Hold water

hold water popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

hold water usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for hold water

verb hold water

  • conform — If something conforms to something such as a law or someone's wishes, it is of the required type or quality.
  • accord — An accord between countries or groups of people is a formal agreement, for example to end a war.
  • square — a rectangle having all four sides of equal length.
  • dovetail — a tenon broader at its end than at its base; pin.
  • relate — to tell; give an account of (an event, circumstance, etc.).
All 24 Synonyms of hold water

Antonyms for hold water

verb hold water

  • refuse — to decline to accept (something offered): to refuse an award.
  • fall off — to drop or descend under the force of gravity, as to a lower place through loss or lack of support.
  • dispute — to engage in argument or debate.
  • differ — to be unlike, dissimilar, or distinct in nature or qualities (often followed by from): The two writers differ greatly in their perceptions of the world. Each writer's style differs from that of another.
  • fight — a battle or combat.
All 11 Antonyms of hold water

See also

Matching words

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