waterworks

See also: water works and water-works

English
WOTD – 25 February 2021

Pronunciation
Bethamangala water works (sense 2) in Bethamangala, Karnataka, India.
  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈwɔːtəˌwəːks/
  • Audio (RP)(file)
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈwɔtɚˌwɚks/, [-ɾɚ-]
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Hyphenation: wa‧ter‧works

Etymology 1

From water +‎ works (“machine, mechanism; factory or factories”).[1]

Noun

waterworks (plural waterworks)

  1. The water supply system of a district, town, city, or other place, including reservoirs, pipes, and pumps.
  2. (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.
  3. (figuratively)
    1. (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.
    2. (informal) Rain.
    3. (Britain, euphemistic) The genitourinary system.
      Synonym: (euphemistic, informal) plumbing
  4. (historical, treated as singular) A hydraulic apparatus by which a supply of water is furnished for ornamental purposes; also, an ornamental fountain or waterfall.
    • 1643 May 12 (Gregorian calendar)​, John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 2 May 1643]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], volume I, 2nd edition, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, page 30:
      Resolving to possess myself in some quiet if it might be, in a time of so great jealosy, I built by my Brother's permission a study, made a fishpond, an island, and some other solitudes and retirements, at Wotton, which gave the first occasion of improving them to those water-works and gardens which afterwards succeeded them.
  5. (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
Derived terms
Translations
rain — see rain

Etymology 2

From waterwork +‎ -s.

Noun

waterworks

  1. plural of waterwork

References
  1. Compare “waterwork, n.”, in OED Online Paid subscription required⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, September 2015; “waterwork, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022; “waterworks, n.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading
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