water tower
16
2.9
- noun
- /ˈwɔːtər ˈtaʊər/
:
torre de agua
- The water tower provides essential water pressure for homes in the surrounding area.
- climb the water tower
- top of a water tower
- town water tower
Examples
-
The best view's from the old water tower.
-
Then it got dark as night, and they blew the siren atop the municipal water tower.
Fiction book (1991) -
Watch the water tower right here.
-
Now, I stay by the water tower.
-
Turn off at the old water tower.
-
I went to the building with the water tower on top.
Fiction book (1995) -
Take the others to the water tower for the night.
Fiction book (1996) -
I'll hide in the water tower.
-
From my bedroom window, I can see three water towers in my little patch of sky.
Blog text (14) -
On the town's flanks stood a water tower and a grain elevator.
Academic text (2011)
How Tall
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'water' (the liquid) + 'tower' (a tall structure): a tall structure that holds water. This is a standard noun–noun compounding pattern found across many languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The name water tower creates a clear picture: a tall tower holding a large tank of water high above a town so the water can flow down with enough 'pressure' to reach houses. That's why a water tower stores water up high to give a steady 'supply' to homes.