waterwork

Municipal water infrastructure

Waterwork most often appears in the plural.

Waterworks are systems for supplying water to a city or town—the reservoirs, pipes, and pumping stations.

The word also refers to fountains or other decorative water features.

Informally, turn on the waterworks means to start crying, often with the suggestion of manipulation or theatricality.

infrastructure

reservoir

Large water storage basin

  • aqueductChannel conveying water distances
  • damWater-holding barrier
  • filtrationSeparating solids from liquids

canal · levee · pump · treatment · desalination · pipeline · catchment · waterway · culvert · aquifer

tears

weeping

Shedding tears audibly

emotion · sentimentality · heartache · dramatics · crocodile · theatrical · outburst · blubbering · sniffling · welling

plumbing

pipes

Cylindrical fluid carriers

  • valvesFlow-controlling mechanisms
  • faucetValve controlling water flow
  • leakEscape through a breach

fitting · drain · trap · pressure · plumber · wrench · soldering · copper · PVC · vent

fountain

jet

Forced fluid stream

  • sprayDispersed liquid droplets
  • cascadeSuccessive downward flow
  • basinConcave water receptacle

spout · nozzle · display · splash · tiered · burble · ornamental · sculpture · statuary · cherub

Opposites
infrastructure type

waterworksewage treatment

Purifying municipal wastewater

sewage system · wastewater treatment · drainage system · wastewater plant · sewerage

EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION (tears)

waterworkstoicism

Uncomplaining acceptance of difficulty

composure · dry eyes · stiff upper lip · laughter · smiles

resource state

waterworkdrought

Prolonged water scarcity

water scarcity · dry well · water shortage · desiccation · aridity

Phrases
Family

waterworks

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G