Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

wa |ter wheel (water wheels ) also waterwheel N‑COUNT A water wheel is a large wheel which is turned by water flowing through it. Water wheels are used to provide power to drive machinery.

water|works /wɔː tə ^r wɜː ^r ks/ (waterworks ) N‑COUNT A waterworks is a building where a supply of water is stored and cleaned before being distributed to the public.

wa|tery /wɔː təri/

1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Something that is watery is weak or pale. □  A watery light began to show through the branches. □  Martha managed to produce a dim, watery smile.

2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe food or drink as watery , you dislike it because it contains too much water, or has no flavour. [DISAPPROVAL ] □  …watery stew.

3 ADJ Something that is watery contains, resembles, or consists of water. □  Emma's eyes went red and watery.

watt /wɒ t/ (watts ) N‑COUNT A watt is a unit of measurement of electrical power. □  Use a 3 amp fuse for equipment up to 720 watts. □  …a 100-watt lightbulb.

watt|age /wɒ t I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT The wattage of a piece of electrical equipment is the amount of electrical power which it produces or uses, expressed in watts.

wat|tle /wɒ t ^ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT Wattle is a framework made by weaving thin sticks through thick sticks which is used for making fences and walls. [BRIT ] □  …the native huts of mud and wattle. □  …wattle fencing.

wave ◆◆◇ /we I v/ (waves , waving , waved )

1 VERB If you wave or wave your hand, you move your hand from side to side in the air, usually in order to say hello or goodbye to someone. □ [V + to/at ] He waved at the waiter, who rushed to the table. □ [V ] He grinned, waved, and said, 'Hi!'. □ [V n] Elaine turned and waved her hand lazily and left. [Also V n prep] ● N‑COUNT Wave is also a noun. □ [+ of ] Steve stopped him with a wave of the hand. □  Paddy spotted Mary Ann and gave her a cheery wave.

2 VERB If you wave someone away or wave them on, you make a movement with your hand to indicate that they should move in a particular direction. □ [V n adv/prep] Leshka waved him away with a show of irritation.

3 VERB If you wave something, you hold it up and move it rapidly from side to side. □ [V n] Hospital staff were outside to welcome him, waving flags and applauding. □ [V n adv/prep] She was apt to raise her voice and wave her hands about. ●  -waving COMB □  Hundreds of banner-waving demonstrators took to the streets. □  …a flag-waving crowd.

4 VERB If something waves , it moves gently from side to side or up and down. □ [V ] …grass and flowers waving in the wind.

5 N‑COUNT A wave is a raised mass of water on the surface of water, especially the sea, which is caused by the wind or by tides making the surface of the water rise and fall. □  …the sound of the waves breaking on the shore.

6 N‑COUNT If someone's hair has waves , it curves slightly instead of being straight.

7 N‑COUNT A wave is a sudden increase in heat or energy that spreads out from an earthquake or explosion. □ [+ of ] The shock waves of the earthquake were felt in Teheran.

8 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Waves are the form in which things such as sound, light, and radio signals travel. □  Sound waves, light waves, and radio waves have a certain frequency.

9 N‑COUNT If you refer to a wave of a particular feeling, you mean that it increases quickly and becomes very intense, and then often decreases again. □ [+ of ] She felt a wave of panic, but forced herself to leave the room calmly.

10 N‑COUNT A wave is a sudden increase in a particular activity or type of behaviour, especially an undesirable or unpleasant one. □ [+ of ] …the current wave of violence. □  …an even newer crime wave.

11 → see also long wave , medium wave , Mexican wave , new wave , short-wave , tidal wave