polywater

American  

[pol-ee-waw-ter, -wot-er] / ˈpɒl iˌwɔ tər, -ˌwɒt ər /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a subtance mistakenly identified as a polymeric form of water, now known to be water containing ions from glass or quartz.

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Etymology

Origin of polywater

First recorded in 1965–70; poly(meric) + water

Example Sentences

Until recently, like most people, I’d never heard of polywater.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

I’d never met the man, but I was fascinated by the scant information I could find about polywater and tickled by the idea I had a family member involved with it.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

It’s possible the CIA subscribed to the belief that, like ice-nine in Cat’s Cradle, polywater was capable of uncontrollably self-replicating.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

When news of polywater first became widely known, some scientists had been doubtful, arguing that impurities were responsible for the phenomenon.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

In 1961 another Soviet scientist picked the work up again and isolated for the first time the substance that would eventually be known as polywater.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013