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

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

Bellamy reported that he’d successfully repeated some of the polywater experiments.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

If you discovered polywater, you'd want it to be real, too.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

After condensing water in the tubes and leaving them alone for about 18 hours, he’d return to find tiny bubbles of polywater congealing inside.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013

In total, nearly 100 scientific papers on polywater were published in the year 1970 alone, based on samples generated in labs across the country and fueled by funding from the U.S.

From Slate • Nov. 8, 2013