The term "water works" is used to refer to a system for supplying water for public use. The spelling of this word is "wɔːtər wɜːks", with the first syllable pronounced as "waw-ter" and the second syllable pronounced as "wuh-rks". The IPA phonetic transcription helps explain the spelling of the word, with the phonemes 'aw' and 'uh' being used to accurately represent the English pronunciation. The word is commonly used in both American and British English with no significant differences in pronunciation.
Water works is a noun phrase that can have multiple meanings and interpretations depending on the context in which it is used. It can refer to a facility where water is purified and distributed for public consumption. This could include treatment plants, reservoirs, pumping stations, and distribution systems that ensure the provision of clean and safe water to communities. Water works are responsible for treating raw water, removing impurities, and ensuring that it meets specific quality standards before it reaches the taps of households and businesses.
The term can also signify a controlled system of artificial water features, such as fountains, cascades, or waterfalls, designed for decorative or aesthetic purposes. These water features are often found in parks, gardens, or public spaces, providing visual appeal, relaxation, and often serving as a focal point for landscaping.
Furthermore, "water works" can refer to instances of someone experiencing intense emotional distress, typically characterized by crying or shedding tears. This usage is more colloquial and typically used in informal conversations or literature to describe a person's display of strong emotions.
In summary, "water works" can refer to a facility involved in the treatment and distribution of water, artificial water features for decorative purposes, or a person's display of intense emotional distress.
Works and machines for raising, retaining, and distributing water.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The term "water works" has two different meanings, each with its own etymology.
1. Water Works meaning "water supply system":
The term originated from the late 18th century, primarily in Britain, to refer to the public infrastructure involved in the supply and distribution of water to a city or town. It comes from the combination of the words "water" and "works", with "works" meaning "engineering structures or facilities". The term reflects the works or installations required to capture, treat, store, and distribute water to the general population.
2. Water Works meaning "crying or weeping":
This meaning of "water works" is derived from the act of crying or weeping. It emerged in the mid-19th century and is often used to describe someone shedding tears excessively or uncontrollably.