water bloom, dense aquatic population of microscopic photosynthetic organisms produced by an abundance of nutrient salts in surface water, coupled with adequate sunlight for photosynthesis. The microorganisms or the toxic substances that they release may discolour the water, deplete its oxygen

history of the Low Countries: Social and economic structure: …led to the foundation of water boards, which in the 13th and 14th centuries were amalgamated to form higher water authorities (the hoogheemraadschappen). Mastery over the water had to be carried out on a large scale and in an organized fashion; the building of dikes required a higher authority and…

water boatman, (family Corixidae), any of more than 300 species of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera, that are named for their flat, boat-shaped bodies and long, fringed, oarlike hindlegs. Members of this cosmopolitan family are usually less than 13 mm (0.5 inch) long. They can be found

dynamometer: A water brake creates a resistance by circulating water between a rotating impeller and a stationary shell while an electric dynamometer generates and absorbs direct-current electricity or eddy currents. In each case, the element that exerts the restraining influence is freely cradled so that its tendency…

atmosphere: Water budget: The water budget at the air-surface interface is also of crucial importance in influencing atmospheric processes. The surface gains water through precipitation (rain and snow), direct condensation, and deposition (dew and frost). On land, the precipitation is often so large that some of…

water buffalo, (Bubalus bubalis), either of two forms, wild and domestic, of Asian mammal similar to the ox. There are 74 breeds of domestic water buffalo numbering some 165 million animals, but only small numbers of wild water buffalo remain. Both forms are gray to black with off-white “socks” and

burial: Water burial: The association between water and immortality is reflected in the myths of many cultures, myths that often centre on a god-hero who sails away from his people in death with the promise to return again. The bodies of chiefs and heroes, therefore, have…

Africa: Sudd: …other water plants—including the floating Nile cabbage (Pistia stratiotes)—form masses of waterlogged plant material that are largely unproductive and are a nuisance to fishing and navigation. Pistia has become an unwelcome invader of Lake Kariba, the body of water formed by the impounding (1959) of the Zambezi River in the…

Luigi Cherubini: …theme: Les Deux Journées (1800; The Two Days, also known as The Water Carrier from its German title, Der Wasserträger). This opera is considered by many to be Cherubini’s masterpiece.

Peter Agre: …2003 for his discovery of water channels in cell membranes. He shared the award with Roderick MacKinnon, also of the United States.

Cambodia: Funan and Chenla: …modern writers to use “Chenla,” the contemporary Chinese term for the region, when referring to Cambodia during that time. Chinese sources suggest that there were at least two kingdoms in Cambodia, known as “Water Chenla” and “Land Chenla,” that vied for recognition from China in that period. Whereas the…

water chestnut, any of several species of water plants that are cultivated for their edible parts. Water chestnuts of the genus Trapa (family Trapaceae) are native to Europe, Asia, and Africa and are also known as water caltrops. The name water chestnut is commonly applied to their edible nutlike

chevrotain: The water chevrotain (Hyemoschus aquaticus), larger than the Asian forms, is found in western equatorial Africa. It inhabits thick cover on the banks of rivers and, when disturbed, seeks escape in the water. While some taxonomies place all Indian chevrotains in the species Moschiola meminna, others…

poultry processing: Water chilling: Water chilling is used throughout North America and involves a prechilling step in which a countercurrent flow of cold water is used to lower the temperature of the carcasses. The carcasses are then moved into a chiller—a large tank specifically designed to move…

lotus: …of eastern North America is Nelumbo pentapetala, a similar plant with yellow blossoms (see Nelumbonaceae). The lotus tree, known to the Romans as the Libyan lotus, was probably Celtis australis, the nettle tree of southern Europe, a member of the elm family (Cannabaceae) with fruits like small cherries, first red…

clepsydra, ancient device for measuring time by the gradual flow of water. One form, used by the North American Indians and some African peoples, consisted of a small boat or floating vessel that shipped water through a hole until it sank. In another form, the vessel was filled with water that was

construction: Improvements in building services: …Bramah invented the metal valve-type water closet as early as 1778, and other early lavatories, sinks, and bathtubs were of metal also; lead, copper, and zinc were all tried. The metal fixtures proved difficult to clean, however, and in England during the 1870s Thomas Twyford developed the first large one-piece…

fern: Annotated classification: …plants rooted in the substrate—Marsilea (waterclover), Pilularia (pillwort), and Regnellidium—with about 75 species found nearly worldwide. Order Cyatheales (tree ferns) Family Cyatheaceae

yacht: Yachting and yacht clubs: …in the British Isles, the Water Club, was formed about 1720 at Cork, Ireland, as a cruising and unofficial coast guard organization, with much naval panoply and formality. The closest thing to a race was the “chase,” when the “fleet” pursued an imaginary enemy. The club persisted, largely as a…

water cock, (Gallicrex cinerea), marsh bird of the rail family, Rallidae (order Gruiformes). It occurs from India to Japan and throughout Southeast Asia to the Philippines. The male is blue-black with red legs, a strongly conical red bill, and a protruding red frontal shield. The female is mottled

gasoline engine: Cooling system: Liquid cooling is employed in most gasoline engines, whether the engines are for use in automobiles or elsewhere. The liquid is circulated around the cylinders to pick up heat and then through a radiator to dissipate the heat. Usually a thermostat is located in the…

Paspalum: Water couch, or knotgrass (P. distichum), forms large flat mats along shores and in ditches in North and South America and Europe; it is used as a lawn grass in Australia.

hippopotamus: Pygmy hippopotamus: The rare pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis, also known as Choeropsis liberiensis), the other living species of the family Hippopotamidae, is about the size of a domestic pig. The pygmy hippo is less aquatic than its larger relative, although, when pursued, it hides in water. Less gregarious, it…

crocodile shark, (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai), small open-ocean shark best known for its large eyes, long gill slits, and formidable teeth. The crocodile shark is the sole member of genus Pseudocarcharias in the family Pseudocarchariidae, order Lamniformes. It inhabits tropical and subtropical

buttercup: Major species: peltatus) and the common water crowfoot (R. aquatilis) have broad floating leaves and finely dissected submerged leaves.

Chinese architecture: Into the 21st century: …himself from the project); the National Aquatics Centre, called the “Water Cube,” was designed by an Australian-Chinese consortium. At the same time, the face of central Beijing’s architecture was further altered by two massive and controversial constructions: the National Centre for the Performing Arts, called “The Egg” and contrasting with…

sponge: Form and function: …canals and chambers, called a water-current system, through which water circulates to bring food and oxygen to the sponge. The water-current system also helps disperse gametes and larvae and remove wastes.

water cycle, cycle that involves the continuous circulation of water in the Earth-atmosphere system. Of the many processes involved in the water cycle, the most important are evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, and runoff. Although the total amount of water within the cycle

12 Contemporary Black Authors You Must Read: Ta-Nehisi Coates: …also published fiction (the novel The Water Dancer) and several issues of the Black Panther and Captain America comic book series.

contour farming: cropping, terracing, and water diversion.

Russell Crowe: Work as a director: …moved into feature-film directing with The Water Diviner (2014), in which he starred as a father attempting to locate his sons, who he believes were killed in the Gallipoli Campaign during World War I. Crowe had previously codirected the documentary Texas (2002), about 30 Odd Foot of Grunts. In 2022…

mud puppy, any of five species of entirely aquatic salamanders in a genus (Necturus) belonging to the family Proteidae (or Necturidae), in the order Caudata. Their popular name derives from the mistaken belief that they are able to bark. They are found in lakes, rivers, and swamps of eastern North

lizard’s tail, member of the lizard’s-tail family (Saururaceae), found in marshy areas of eastern North America. The plant has creeping stems, or runners. Erect branches about 60 to 150 centimetres (2 to 5 feet) tall bear heart-shaped leaves on long stalks. Small, white flowers grow in a spike with

cowbane: rigidior, which is also called water-dropwort. Several species of Cicuta are also called cowbane (see water hemlock).

Native American music: Southern Cone: …used in shamanic curing rituals, water drums, and bamboo stamping tubes played by Maká women. In the Misiones region, the Mbyá people use a guitar and striking-sticks to accompany their annual first fruits celebration. Performance contexts include shamanic rituals, harvest ceremonies, and life-cycle events.

viburnum: The European cranberry, highbush cranberry, or water elder (V. opulus), a small tree reaching 4 metres (13 feet), is native to northern Europe and North Africa. It has three- to five-lobed, maplelike leaves and round heads of white flowers that are followed by hanging clusters of…

Ulmaceae: Major genera and species: The planer tree, or water elm (Planera aquatica), of southeastern North America, produces useful timber known as false sandalwood. It is the only member of its genus.

waterpower, power produced by a stream of water as it turns a wheel or similar device. The waterwheel was probably invented in the 1st century bce, and it was widely used throughout the Middle Ages and into modern times for grinding grain, operating bellows for furnaces, and other purposes. The

Patti LuPone: …that included a production of The Water Engine (1978) at the Plymouth Theatre in New York City.

pelagic zone, ecological realm that includes the entire ocean water column. Of all the inhabited Earth environments, the pelagic zone has the largest volume, 1,370,000,000 cubic kilometres (330,000,000 cubic miles), and the greatest vertical range, 11,000 metres (36,000 feet). Pelagic life is found

overhydration, condition characterized by an excessive volume of water in the body. Overhydration occurs when the body’s ability to dispose of fluid is overcome by a large fluid intake. It also can occur when the mechanisms for the disposal of excess fluid are defective, as is the case when more

In the series Explained in 5 Questions, experts take on big topics and help you understand them better. list, water, importance, threats, climate change, water purification, drinking water, future, Explained in 5 QuestionsWater is an inorganic chemical compound abundantly found on Earth. Each water

water fern, (genus Ceratopteris), small genus of aquatic ferns (family Pteridaceae). Ceratopteris consists of at least four species: broadleaf water sprite (C. cornuta); floating antlerfern, or water horn fern (C. pteridoides); triangle water fern (C. richardii); and water sprite (C.

filtration, the process in which solid particles in a liquid or gaseous fluid are removed by the use of a filter medium that permits the fluid to pass through but retains the solid particles. Either the clarified fluid or the solid particles removed from the fluid may be the desired product. In

Iridaceae: Major genera and species: …yellow, or water, flag (I. pseudacorus) is a swamp plant native to Eurasia and North Africa; the blue flag (I. versicolor) occupies similar habitats in North America. Blackberry lily (I. domestica, formerly Belamcanda chinensis) is native to East Asia and is grown for its red-spotted orange flowers. Members of…

water flea, any member of the crustacean order Anomopoda (class Branchiopoda), a large group containing about 450 species distributed worldwide. Most forms are found in freshwater habitats, but a few occur in marine environments. The best known genus is Daphnia, ubiquitous in ponds and streams in

water fluoridation, addition of fluoride compounds to water (see fluorine) at one part per million to reduce dental caries (cavities). This practice is based on the lower rates of caries seen in areas with moderate natural fluoridation of water and on studies showing that sound teeth contain more

All there is to know about one of the most effective public health programs of the last century. Companion, fluoridation, fluoride, water treatment, government, public health, public health programs, dental health, fluorosis, water, drinking water, community water

Christoph Waltz: Another award-winning turn with Tarantino and playing the bad guy: …other American movies, among them Water for Elephants, The Three Musketeers, and Carnage (all released in 2011). Waltz’s second Tarantino collaboration, in Django Unchained (2012), proved just as incendiary as the first. His character—one of the heroes of a revenge fantasy set in the antebellum American South—is complex, troubling, and…

forget-me-not: The water forget-me-not (M. scorpioides) is shorter and has weaker stems; it grows in marshlands but is otherwise similar. Both are perennial and occur in white- and pink-flowered forms as well as blue.

water frame, In textile manufacture, a spinning machine powered by water that produced a cotton yarn suitable for warp (lengthwise threads). Patented in 1769 by R. Arkwright, it represented an improvement on James Hargreaves’s spinning jenny, which produced weaker thread suitable only for weft

valley: Cross-axial drainage: These contrast with the water gaps that still contain transverse streams. The famous water gaps of the Appalachians are excellent examples of such patterns.

gardening: Water gardens: The water garden represents one of the oldest forms of gardening. Egyptian records and pictures of cultivated water lilies date as far back as 2000 bce. The Japanese have also made water gardens to their own particular and beautiful patterns for many centuries.…

chemical industry: Nitrogen: …hydrogen, a mixture known as water gas. It is also possible to carry out a water-gas shift reaction by passing the water gas with more steam over a catalyst, yielding more hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is removed by dissolving it in water at a pressure of about…

explosive: Water gels: Water gels, or slurries, were introduced in 1958. These were, at first, mixtures of ammonium nitrate, TNT, water, and gelatinizing agents, usually guar gum and a cross-linking agent such as borax. (Cross-linking is a form of chemical bonding.) Later, aluminum and other metallic…

water glass, a compound containing sodium oxide (Na2O) and silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2) that forms a glassy solid with the very useful property of being soluble in water. Water glass is sold as solid lumps or powders or as a clear, syrupy liquid. It is used as a convenient source of sodium for

percussion instrument: Sub-Saharan Africa: Water gourds—half gourds floated open side down in a pan of water and struck rhythmically with small sticks—are played in western Africa; in Benin their chief use is at funeral rites.

pondweed: Cape pondweed, or water hawthorn (Aponogeton distachyos), of the family Aponogetonaceae, is native to South Africa and is grown as an ornamental in pools and greenhouses. Many species of those families serve as food for waterfowl and as cover for fishes.

water hemlock, (genus Cicuta), genus of four species of poisonous plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae), common throughout the north temperate zone. Water hemlocks typically grow in wet, marshy places and are often confused with nonpoisonous members of the family, such as wild carrots or

gallinule: The purple gallinule of America (Porphyrula martinica), sometimes called water hen or sultana, is about 30 cm long and is bright olive green and purplish blue with a light blue shield, red and yellow bill, and yellow legs and feet. It is found from South Carolina…

moorhen, bird species also called common gallinule. See

hickory: Major species: cordiformis) and the water hickory (C. aquatica) are bitter-tasting and inedible, because the skin covering the kernels contains tannin. The nuts of most other species are edible but are too small to be commercially important.

capybara, (genus Hydrochoerus), either of two species of large semiaquatic South American rodents. Capybaras inhabit forests and wetlands from Panama to Argentina. The larger of the two species, the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), is the largest living rodent in the world, growing up to about

water fern: cornuta); floating antlerfern, or water horn fern (C. pteridoides); triangle water fern (C. richardii); and water sprite (C. thalictroides). The plants are widespread in tropical and warm temperate regions around the world, and several are cultivated as aquarium plants. Although water ferns sometimes root in mud,…

hippopotamus, (Hippopotamus amphibius), amphibious African ungulate mammal. Often considered to be the second largest land animal (after the elephant), the hippopotamus is comparable in size and weight to the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) and the Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis).

water hyacinth, any aquatic plant of the genus Eichhornia of the pickerelweed family (Pontederiaceae), consisting of about five species, native primarily to tropical America. Some species float in shallow water; others are rooted in muddy stream banks and lakeshores. All have slender rootstocks,

sherbet: Water ice, called in French sorbet and in Italian granita, is similar to sherbet but contains no dairy ingredients.

ice, solid substance produced by the freezing of water vapour or liquid water. At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F), water vapour develops into frost at ground level and snowflakes (each of which consists of a single ice crystal) in clouds. Below the same temperature, liquid water forms a solid, as,

water supply system, infrastructure for the collection, transmission, treatment, storage, and distribution of water for homes, commercial establishments, industry, and irrigation, as well as for such public needs as firefighting and street flushing. Of all municipal services, provision of potable

water infrastructure in India, infrastructure for the holistic management of the water resources of India. The infrastructure includes dams, irrigation systems, and reservoirs and ensures the collection, storage, and distribution of water to agriculture, industries, and households. Vital for

overhydration, condition characterized by an excessive volume of water in the body. Overhydration occurs when the body’s ability to dispose of fluid is overcome by a large fluid intake. It also can occur when the mechanisms for the disposal of excess fluid are defective, as is the case when more

green anaconda, common name for what are generally considered to be two species of nonvenomous semiaquatic boa (family Boidae) native to South America. Green anacondas are known for their immense size, some recorded specimens measuring as long as 9 meters (30 feet) and weighing more than 250 kg

Africa: Sudd: …other water plants—including the floating Nile cabbage (Pistia stratiotes)—form masses of waterlogged plant material that are largely unproductive and are a nuisance to fishing and navigation. Pistia has become an unwelcome invader of Lake Kariba, the body of water formed by the impounding (1959) of the Zambezi River in the…

surveying: History: The water level consisted of either a trough or a tube turned upward at the ends and filled with water. At each end there was a sight made of crossed horizontal and vertical slits. When these were lined up just above the water level, the sights…

Water Lilies, series of some 250 oil paintings that were created by French Impressionist artist Claude Monet from the late 1890s to his death in 1926 and were focused on the water lily pond in his garden. As Vincent van Gogh is associated in the public consciousness with sunflowers, Monet’s name is

water lily, (family Nymphaeaceae), family of about 60 species in 4 genera of freshwater flowering plants (order Nymphaeales) native to the temperate and tropical parts of the world. Water lilies provide food for fish and wildlife but sometimes cause drainage problems because of their rapid growth.

Nymphaeales, the water lily order of flowering plants, containing 3 families, 6 genera, and 74 species. Members of the order are found in quiet freshwater habitats throughout most of the world. The aesthetic appeal of the water lilies, especially those of the genus Nymphaea, has led to their

lobelia: Major species: …tropical or warm temperate areas, water lobelia (L. dortmanna) occurs throughout the north temperate zone. Similarly, acrid lobelia (L. urens) is found locally in damp pastures in England and western Europe.

water supply system: Pipelines: …distribution network consists of arterial water mains or primary feeders, which convey water from the treatment plant to areas of major water use in the community, and smaller-diameter pipelines called secondary feeders, which tie in to the mains. Usually not less than 150 mm (6 inches) in diameter, these pipelines…

Water Margin, ancient Chinese vernacular novel known from several widely varying manuscripts under the name Shuihuzhuan. Its variations are so extreme as to make the work the most textually complex in Chinese literature; the text cannot be dated with accuracy, and its authors cannot be identified.

water mass, body of ocean water with a distinctive narrow range of temperature and salinity and a particular density resulting from these two parameters. Water masses are formed as the result of climatic effects in specific regions. Antarctic bottom water is an important water mass that forms on

marsh treader, any insect of the family Hydrometridae (order Heteroptera), so named because of its slow, deliberate manner of moving as it walks along the surface of a pond or crawls among shore vegetation. Marsh treaders, worldwide in distribution, are usually found among the cattails in marshy

water milfoil, (genus Myriophyllum), genus of about 45 widely distributed species of submerged freshwater flowering plants in the family Haloragaceae. The plants have whorls of feathery leaves and emergent (growing above the water level) wind-pollinated flowers. Most species reproduce sexually as

Saxifragales: Major families: Haloragaceae, or the water milfoil family, comprises 8 genera and 145 species of land, marsh, and water herbs with small leaves and small flower clusters. The flowers are unisexual, generally wind-pollinated, with a three- to four-chambered ovary and a similar number of styles (pollen-receptive parts…

waterwheel, mechanical device for tapping the energy of running or falling water by means of a set of paddles mounted around a wheel. The force of the moving water is exerted against the paddles, and the consequent rotation of the wheel is transmitted to machinery via the shaft of the wheel. The

mint: Major species: Water mint (M. aquatica) commonly grows in ditches and has rounded flower spikes and stalked hairy leaves. Wild mint (M. arvensis), native in North America and Eurasia, reaches about 1 metre (about 3.3 feet) in height.

water moccasin, (Agkistrodon piscivorus), species of large-bodied semiaquatic venomous snake inhabiting moist forests, wetlands, and intertidal habitats of the southeastern United States. The water moccasin is classified with rattlesnakes, copperheads, and other pit vipers in the subfamily

water mold, (order Saprolegniales), order of about 150 species of filamentous funguslike organisms (phylum Oomycota, kingdom Chromista). Many water molds live in fresh or brackish water or wet soils. Most species are saprotrophic (i.e., they live on dead or decaying organic matter), although some

water moss, (Fontinalis), genus of mosses belonging to the subclass Bryidae, often found in flowing freshwater streams and ponds in temperate regions. Of the 20 species of water moss, 18 are native to North America. A brook moss may have shoots 30 to 100 (rarely up to 200) cm (12 to 40 inches) long

water mold, (order Saprolegniales), order of about 150 species of filamentous funguslike organisms (phylum Oomycota, kingdom Chromista). Many water molds live in fresh or brackish water or wet soils. Most species are saprotrophic (i.e., they live on dead or decaying organic matter), although some

Water Music, suite of short pieces for small orchestra by German-born English composer George Frideric Handel, known particularly for its highly spirited movements in dance form. Most of the pieces were originally intended for outdoor performance, and the work premiered on a barge on the River

water net, (genus Hydrodictyon), genus of filamentous green algae (family Hydrodictyaceae) sometimes found on the surface of quiet freshwater bodies. Because of its reproductive efficiency, Hydrodictyon proliferates rapidly and can be a problem in ponds, recreational waters, and irrigation canals.

water oak, (Quercus nigra), ornamental tree, native to the southeastern coastal plains of the United States. The plant is adapted to moist conditions, such as along stream banks, but can tolerate drier soils. The tree is fairly short-lived (less than 80 years) and is often planted as a shade tree

wild rice, (genus Zizania), genus of four species of coarse grasses of the family Poaceae, the grain of which is sometimes grown as a delicacy. Despite their name, the plants are not related to true rice (Oryza sativa). Wild rice grows naturally in shallow freshwater marshes and along the shores of

sugar: Juice extraction: …countercurrent of water known as water of maceration or imbibition. Streams of juice extracted from the cane, mixed with maceration water from all mills, are combined into a mixed juice called dilute juice. Juice from the last mill in the series (which does not receive a current of maceration water)…

Edinburgh: City site: …Edinburgh’s only substantial stream, the Water of Leith. The stream’s brief course from the Pentlands to the sea provided power for the mills of a series of villages—Dalry, Dean, Stockbridge, Silvermills, and Canonmills—that experienced significant growth from the early 17th century onward. These villages, which sprang up largely as industrial…

sugar: Juice extraction: …countercurrent of water known as water of maceration or imbibition. Streams of juice extracted from the cane, mixed with maceration water from all mills, are combined into a mixed juice called dilute juice. Juice from the last mill in the series (which does not receive a current of maceration water)…

hydrocephalus, accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain, causing progressive enlargement of the head. Normally, CSF continuously circulates through the brain and the spinal cord and is continuously drained into the circulatory system. In hydrocephalus

Compton Mackenzie: … (1913–14); a satiric sting in Water on the Brain (1933), attacking the British secret service, which had prosecuted him under the Official Secrets Act for his autobiographical Greek Memories (1932); and a love of pure fun in The Monarch of the Glen (1941) and Whisky Galore (1947). Other novels included…

water opossum, (Chironectes minimus), a semiaquatic, web-footed marsupial (family Didelphidae, subfamily Didelphinae) found along tropical rivers, streams, and lakes from Mexico to Argentina. Adults average 70 cm (28 inches) in total length and weigh up to 790 grams (1.7 pounds). A pouch is present