Definition

Verb phrase: 1. To enter the water; to go into a body of water: This phrase describes the action of something, typically a boat or an animal, moving from land or air into the water. It is an older or more literary usage. - The canoe began to take water as it was launched from the shore. - The ducks will take water at the first sign of danger.

1. To begin to leak or ship water (nautical): In a specific nautical context, for a vessel to "take water" means to start letting water in, often due to damage.
   • After hitting the reef, the ship started to take water rapidly.

Usage Examples

• Entering the water:

  • The seaplane smoothly took water after its descent.
  • Observing from the blind, the hunters watched the geese take water in the pond.

• Taking on water (leaking):

  • The old wooden dinghy was taking water and needed to be bailed out.
  • We had to patch the hull because the boat was taking water.

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in a formal, descriptive, or historical context, particularly in writing about nature, maritime activities, or aviation.
• It can imply a deliberate or natural action of entering the water, as opposed to accidentally falling in.

Variants and Related Words

• Take on water: This is a more common modern phrasal verb with the same nautical meaning of a vessel leaking.
  • The ferry took on water during the storm.
• Watertake (noun): This is a rare and largely obsolete term for an intake of water, such as for a mill.

Synonyms

• Launch (for boats): To set a boat into the water.
• Alight (on water): For birds to land on the water's surface.
• Leak, Spring a leak: For the nautical meaning of taking in water.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Take in water: Functionally identical to "take on water" in the nautical sense.
  • The damaged vessel was taking in water faster than the pumps could handle.

Related Idioms

• Like a duck to water: To take to a new activity very easily and naturally. This idiom shares the imagery of entering water comfortably.
  • She took to programming like a duck to water.
• In hot water: To be in trouble. This is a different, common idiom with no direct relation to the action of entering water.
  • He found himself in hot water after missing the deadline.

Verb

1. enter the water
   • the wild ducks took water