Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of wetting or supplying with water: "watering" refers to the process of applying water to something, such as plants, a lawn, or a garden.
   • The act of shedding tears: "watering" can also describe the involuntary production of tears from the eyes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Regular watering is essential for a healthy garden. (The act of supplying water is crucial for plant health.)
  • The watering of the new soccer field will begin tomorrow. (The process of applying water to the field is scheduled.)
  • The strong wind caused a watering of my eyes. (The wind induced the shedding of tears.)

Advanced Usage

• "Watering down": This is a phrasal verb meaning to dilute or weaken the strength, force, or effectiveness of something. It is related to but distinct from the noun "watering".
  • The company was accused of watering down its safety standards. (The company weakened its standards.)
• "Mouth-watering": An adjective meaning very appetizing in appearance or smell. It is a compound word.
  • The bakery displayed a mouth-watering array of pastries. (The pastries looked very delicious.)

Variants and Related Words

• Water (verb): To pour or supply water to.
  • I need to water the plants.
• Watery (adj): Containing or resembling water; thin or diluted.
  • The soup was too watery.
• Watered (adj): Having received water; also used in finance to describe stock whose value has been diluted.
  • The watered lawn looked green and healthy.

Synonyms

• Irrigation: The artificial application of water to land (more specific and technical than "watering").
• Tearfulness: The state of being inclined to shed tears (a synonym for the "shedding tears" sense).
• Dilution: The action of making a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent (related to the concept in "watering down").

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Water down: To dilute a liquid; to make something less forceful or extreme.
  • He watered down the juice for the children. (He diluted the juice.)
  • The film's violence was watered down for television. (The violence was made less intense.)

Related Idioms

• Make one's mouth water: To cause someone to feel a strong desire for something, especially food.
  • The smell of barbecue makes my mouth water. (The smell creates a strong appetite.)
• Cry/weep crocodile tears: To pretend to be sad or to shed false tears. This idiom contrasts with the genuine "watering" of eyes.
  • He's not really sorry; he's just crying crocodile tears. (His tears are not sincere.)

Noun

1. wetting with water
   • the lawn needs a great deal of watering
2. shedding tears