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hard water

American  

noun

  1. water that contains magnesium, calcium, or iron salts and therefore forms a soap lather with difficulty.


hard water Cultural  
  1. Water in which dissolved minerals make it difficult to produce a lather with soap.


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Hard water is usually associated with well water in regions where the rocks contain a large proportion of iron-bearing minerals.

Example Sentences

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Other plastics, including ones promoted as highly recyclable, such as clear polyethylene bottles, which hold some medications, or hard water bottles, are being recycled at just 16%.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 14, 2026

Yet stalagmites offer new insights into climate fluctuations because the German researchers could examine the isotopic composition of oxygen in a southern German stalagmite that had been formed from hard water.

From Salon Jan. 22, 2024

In areas with hard water, repeated irrigation deposits minerals into the soil and onto the sides of the container.

From Seattle Times Apr. 6, 2023

Gordon: The most accurate test for hard water is to send a sample to an accredited independent laboratory.

From Washington Post Aug. 23, 2022

She ask about hard water stains and I tell her cream of tartar.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

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