noun
waterworks
WAW-tuh-wuhks
Waterworks (noun) means the system of pipes, pumps, and reservoirs that supplies water to a town or city. Example: “The city's waterworks were built over a century ago.”
noun
1
The system of pipes, pumps, and reservoirs that supplies water to a town or city.
"The city's waterworks were built over a century ago."
2
Informally, tears or crying, especially when seen as excessive or manipulative — in the phrase "turn on the waterworks."
"As soon as she was caught, she turned on the waterworks."
"She turned on the waterworks when we told her the old man was dead, but she was asking questions about the will soon enough."
How to use waterworks
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a city's water supply system, or, informally, a dramatic burst of crying.
Memory tip
"Turn on the waterworks" always implies the crying is a bit performative rather than fully genuine.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
turn on the waterworks
municipal waterworks
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Word forms
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The city's _____ were built over a century ago.
Etymology
A compound of "water" and "works," in the old sense of "works" meaning a factory or engineered system.
Frequently asked questions
What does “waterworks” mean?
The word “waterworks” means the system of pipes, pumps, and reservoirs that supplies water to a town or city. In plain terms, either a city's water supply system, or, informally, a dramatic burst of crying.
How do you pronounce “waterworks”?
“Waterworks” is pronounced WAW-tuh-wuhks (/ˈwɔtɚˌwɚks/ in IPA).
How do you use “waterworks” in a sentence?
Here is “waterworks” used in a sentence: “The city's waterworks were built over a century ago.”
What part of speech is “waterworks”?
“Waterworks” is a noun.
How many meanings does “waterworks” have?
“Waterworks” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the system of pipes, pumps, and reservoirs that supplies water to a town or city.
