Seawater: meaning, definitions and examples
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seawater
[ ˈsiːwɔːtə ]
ocean water
Seawater is the water from the sea, characterized by its salt content and mineral composition. It is a critical component of Earth's hydrological cycle and supports marine ecosystems. The average salinity of seawater is about 3.5%, which affects its density and temperature. Seawater is also used for various purposes such as desalination, aquaculture, and recreation.
Examples of usage
- The seawater was warm during our beach vacation.
- Many marine animals thrive in seawater ecosystems.
- Researchers tested the seawater for pollutants.
- Seawater desalination plants provide fresh water to dry regions.
Translations
Translations of the word "seawater" in other languages:
🇵🇹 água do mar
🇮🇳 समुद्री पानी
🇩🇪 Meerwasser
🇮🇩 air laut
🇺🇦 морська вода
🇵🇱 woda morska
🇯🇵 海水
🇫🇷 eau de mer
🇪🇸 agua de mar
🇹🇷 deniz suyu
🇰🇷 바닷물
🇸🇦 مياه البحر
🇨🇿 mořská voda
🇸🇰 morská voda
🇨🇳 海水
🇸🇮 morska voda
🇮🇸 sjávarvatn
🇰🇿 теңіз суы
🇬🇪 მრავალმხრივი წყალი
🇦🇿 dəniz suyu
🇲🇽 agua de mar
Etymology
The term 'seawater' is a compound of 'sea' and 'water'. The word 'sea' comes from Old English 'sǣ', meaning 'sea, lake, or ocean'. This term is derived from Germanic roots and is connected with several cognates in other Germanic languages. The Old English word has undergone various phonetic changes over time, but its fundamental meaning has remained constant. The word 'water' has an even older lineage, originating from Proto-Germanic '*watōr', which relates to the concepts of wetness and liquids across numerous Indo-European languages. The combination of these two terms 'sea' and 'water' to form 'seawater' specifically refers to the saline water found in Earth's oceans and seas. The use of seawater in various scientific and industrial applications has been increasingly recognized, particularly with growing concerns about freshwater scarcity, making this term even more relevant in contemporary contexts.