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

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."

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."

How to use waterworks

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

waterworks plural

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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.