watering

Everyday

1. (verb) Giving water to plants or animals. tree →
2. (noun) The act of giving water: The garden needs watering. tree →
3. (adjective) Causing eyes or mouth to fill with water: watering eyes, mouth-watering food. tree →
4. «A watering can» is a container with a spout for watering plants; «a watering hole» is a pool where animals drink, or (informal) a pub. tree →

In the lessons

In science: plants need watering, light and warmth to grow. In everyday life: watering the garden, mouth-watering smells. In nature documentaries: animals at the watering hole.

Examples

• I am watering the tomatoes. tree →
• The garden needs watering every evening in summer. tree →
• Fill the watering can at the outside tap. tree →
• Chopping onions left me with watering eyes. tree →
• The smell of baking was mouth-watering. tree →
• Zebras gather at the watering hole. tree →
• The gardener was near the gate, watering the dill and parsley, the carrots and parsnips. tree →

Note

From the verb «water» (water, waters, watered, watering). «Mouth-watering» = looks or smells delicious. In maths problems, watering often gives litres per plant: 2 litres each for 6 plants is 12 litres.

In Jewish tradition

In Genesis, the troughs where Jacob set peeled rods so the flocks would drink and breed. In the Psalms it means God soaking the earth's ridges with rain, and in Judges the "watering-troughs" are where people gather and tell of God's righteous acts.

Interpretation. Psalm 65 is read as praise of God who gives rain and feeds the world.

Examples

• And he set the rods which he had peeled over against the flocks in the gutters in the watering-troughs where the flocks came to drink; and they conceived when they came to drink. (Torah GEN.30.38, JPS 1917) tree →
• Watering her ridges abundantly, settling down the furrows thereof, Thou makest her soft with showers; Thou blessest the growth thereof. (Writings PSA.65.11, JPS 1917) tree →
• Louder than the voice of archers, by the watering-troughs! there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts of His rulers in Israel. (Prophets JDG.5.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

From the verb «water» (water, waters, watered, watering). «Mouth-watering» = looks or smells delicious. In maths problems, watering often gives litres per plant: 2 litres each for 6 plants is 12 litres.