drinking-water

A child drinks a glass of drinking-water at the kitchen table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Water intended for human consumption: "drinking-water" refers to water that is safe and suitable for drinking by people, typically treated or purified to meet health standards.
   • Potable water: A synonym for water that is free from harmful contaminants and fit for ingestion.

Usage Examples

• (Water that is safe to drink from a local source.)
• (Packaged water intended for consumption.)
• (Water treated or prepared to be safe for drinking.)

Advanced Usage

• "Drinking-water quality": The standard of purity and safety required for water to be considered potable.

  • The government tests drinking-water quality regularly to prevent contamination. (They check the purity of water meant for drinking.)

• "Drinking-water supply": The system or source that provides water for human consumption.

  • The city's drinking-water supply comes from a nearby reservoir. (The source of potable water for the population.)

Variants and Related Words

• Drinkable (adj): suitable or safe for drinking.
  • The water from the spring is clear and drinkable. (It is safe to consume.)
• Potable (adj): fit for drinking; synonym of "drinkable."
  • The expedition carried only potable water for the journey. (Water safe for drinking.)

Synonyms

• Potable water: water that is safe to drink.
• Tap water: water from a faucet, often treated for drinking.
• Bottled water: water sold in sealed containers for consumption.

Related Idioms

• "Water under the bridge": (Not directly related to drinking-water, but an idiom involving water) past events that are no longer important.
  • Our argument is just water under the bridge now. (It is no longer significant.)

Note: No phrasal verbs or idioms are specific to "drinking-water" as a compound noun; it is a fixed term for a specific type of water.