Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

-watcher /-wɒtʃə ^r / (-watchers ) COMB -watcher combines with nouns to form other nouns that refer to people who are interested in a group of animals or people, and who study them closely. □  The bird-watchers crept about in the bushes. □  Royal-watcher Mary Hayes said: 'It looks like it is going to be an unhappy time for the Queen.'

watch|ful /wɒ tʃfʊl/ ADJ Someone who is watchful notices everything that is happening. □  The best thing is to be watchful and see the doctor for any change in your health.

-watching /-wɒtʃ I ŋ/ COMB -watching combines with nouns to form other nouns which refer to the activity of looking at a group of animals or people and studying them because they interest you. □  Whale-watching has become a growth leisure industry. □  He is said to have invented the sport of celebrity-watching.

watch|man /wɒ tʃmən/ (watchmen )

1 N‑COUNT A watchman is a person whose job is to guard a building or area.

2 → see also nightwatchman

watch|tower /wɒ tʃtaʊə ^r / (watchtowers ) N‑COUNT A watchtower is a high building which gives a person a good view of the area around the place that they are guarding.

watch|word /wɒ tʃwɜː ^r d/ (watchwords ) N‑COUNT [oft with poss] Someone's watchword is a word or phrase that sums up their attitude or approach to a particular subject or to things in general. □  Caution has been one of Mr Allan's watchwords.

wa|ter ◆◆◆ /wɔː tə ^r / (waters , watering , watered )

1 N‑UNCOUNT Water is a clear thin liquid that has no colour or taste when it is pure. It falls from clouds as rain and enters rivers and seas. All animals and people need water in order to live. □  Get me a glass of water. □  …the sound of water hammering on the metal roof. □  …a trio of children playing along the water's edge.

2 N‑PLURAL You use waters to refer to a large area of sea, especially the area of sea which is near to a country and which is regarded as belonging to it. □  The ship will remain outside Chinese territorial waters. □ [+ of ] …the open waters of the Arctic Ocean.

3 N‑PLURAL [adj N ] You sometimes use waters to refer to a situation which is very complex or difficult. □  …the man brought in to guide him through troubled waters. □  The country may be in stormy economic waters.

4 VERB If you water plants, you pour water over them in order to help them to grow. □ [V n] He went out to water the plants.

5 VERB If your eyes water , tears build up in them because they are hurting or because you are upset. □ [V ] His eyes watered from the smoke.

6 VERB If you say that your mouth is watering , you mean that you can smell or see some nice food and you might mean that your mouth is producing a liquid. □ [V ] …cookies to make your mouth water.

7 → see also mouth-watering

8 PHRASE When a pregnant woman's waters break , the fluid in her womb that surrounds the baby passes out of her body, showing that the baby is ready to be born. A doctor or midwife can break a woman's waters so that the birth can begin. □  My waters broke at six in the morning and within four hours Jamie was born.

9 PHRASE If you say that an event or incident is water under the bridge , you mean that it has happened and cannot now be changed, so there is no point in worrying about it any more. □  He was relieved his time in jail was over and regarded it as water under the bridge.

10 PHRASE If you are in deep water , you are in a difficult or awkward situation. □  I could tell that we were getting off the subject and into deep water.

11 PHRASE If an argument or theory does not hold water , it does not seem to be reasonable or be in accordance with the facts. □  This argument simply cannot hold water in Europe.