Watery

Watery is an adjective derived from water. It describes something that contains a large amount of water or resembles water in appearance, texture, or behavior. The term is used for liquids and substances with little body or viscosity, as well as for surfaces that look moist or translucent. Watery can also refer to secretions, solutions, or tissues that are mostly water.

In culinary contexts, a watery sauce or soup lacks body, while a diluted drink may be described as watery. In food science, high water content can influence texture, flavor release, and shelf life. In biology and medicine, watery describes fluids such as mucous secretions, tears, or stool that are predominantly water in composition; a watery eye or a watery discharge indicates moisture.

In physics and chemistry, "aqueous" is a closely related term used to describe a solution in which water is the solvent. In everyday speech, watery is sometimes used metaphorically to suggest a lack of depth or substance, as in a watery argument, though such usage is informal.

Etymology: from water + -y; attested in Middle English as waterye or waterie; related forms include wateriness and watery-eyed.