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first water

American  

noun

  1. (formerly) the highest degree of fineness in a diamond or other precious stone.

  2. the finest quality; highest rank.


first water British  

noun

  1. the finest quality of diamond or other precious stone

  2. the highest grade or best quality

  3. the most extreme kind

    a fool of the first water

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of first water

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

"We prepared the players that up until the first water break it would be a difficult game," he said.

From BBC Jul. 6, 2026

After their first water farm, they envision building more along the coast.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 21, 2025

Within a few days, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard, and local government had the first water station set up downtown.

From Slate Nov. 2, 2024

Tritium levels in the surrounding waters since the initial discharge have met pre-determined standards, according to tests conducted by Tepco, and no issues have been identified with the first water release, Matsumoto said.

From Reuters Oct. 5, 2023

She hugged herself against the sudden chill and watched the marsh thirstily drink up the first water of the season.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

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