Dictionary

waterwork en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [-ɾɚ-] (General-American)
• /ˈwɔtɚˌwɚk/ (General-American)
• /ˈwɔːtəˌwəːk/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Late Middle English [Term?], analysable as water + work.

Meanings

1. (countable) A machine or mechanism for raising or carrying water.
2. (countable) A textile fabric used like tapestry.
3. (countable, uncountable) Some action or activity done on, in, or using water.
4. (uncountable) A style of painting executed in distemper or size, on canvas or a wall, intended to resemble a tapestry; (countable) such a painting.
   • [F]or thy wals a pretty ſleight drollery, or the ſtorie of the prodigal, or the Iarman hunting in waterworke, is worth a thouſand of theſe bed-hangers, and theſe flie bitten tapeſtrie, let it be x. ♇ [i.e., ten pounds] if thou canſt: [...] c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henrie the Fourth, […], quarto edition, London: […] V[alentine] S[immes] for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley, published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
5. (countable, historical, uncountable) Alternative form of waterworks. ▸ A hydraulic apparatus by which a supply of water is furnished for ornamental purposes; also, an ornamental fountain or waterfall.
6. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of waterworks. ▸ Engineering works relating to the conveyance and flow of fluids (principally water), such as the collection and distribution of water, drainage, irrigation, etc.

Forms