Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A mechanical device designed to dispense small quantities of
drinking water , usually in work - or other public places.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a public fountain to provide a jet of drinking water
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word water fountain.
Examples
Sorry, no example sentences found.
pterodactyl commented on the word water fountain
Wordniks: Do you use "water fountain" or "drinking fountain" to refer to the machine that people drink from?
Yesterday someone asked me for directions to the "water fountain", and the phrase struck me as odd. Why do we specify that it's a "water" fountain? Do we need to differentiate it from fountains that dispense other substances?
Yes, that must be it. Next time someone asks me where the water fountain is, I'll say "It's over there, next to the chocolate fountain."
(...oh, I wish...)
February 15, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
I'm more likely to say "drinking fountain" when I'm at a park with some other large public fountain. When I'm inside I might say "water fountain," or just "fountain." However, I have never in my life called one a bubbler.
February 15, 2011
yarb commented on the word water fountain
Ha ha. I suppose I use both terms although drinking fountain obviously makes more sense.
February 15, 2011
reesetee commented on the word water fountain
Hmm. I think I use water fountain. Maybe it's because water doesn't usually fountain elsewhere. I mean, in most places it appears in a glass or bottle and does not spurt up toward my face. :-)
February 15, 2011
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word water fountain
I exclusively use bubbler, which may (or may not, mind you) be a little childish, but I have never actually heard anyone say 'drinking/ water fountain' except on the screens or in print.
February 15, 2011
yarb commented on the word water fountain
reesetee: but water tpically fountains in... fountains, no? Of the ornamental variety I mean.
February 15, 2011
yarb commented on the word water fountain
bubbler is new to me and just a teensy bit creepy.
February 15, 2011
bilby commented on the word water fountain
I hate bubbler (sorry P_U). Sounds like a birdie bidet where a babbler or a warbler goes to rinse shit off his bum in a torrent of effervescence.
February 16, 2011
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word water fountain
Wow. I think I've just been put off bubblers forever.
What do you call them?
February 16, 2011
bilby commented on the word water fountain
I don't know what I call them!
*wails*
Can't I just point for a while?
February 16, 2011
reesetee commented on the word water fountain
Bilby: Eeew.
Yarb: True. I suppose I meant potable water only.
February 16, 2011
pterodactyl commented on the word water fountain
I've clearly set off a bubbling storm of controversy with my question, so, in an effort to bring peace to all sides, I propose we coin a new phrase to refer to these devices. You know, something that everyone can agree on.
How about "aqueous refreshment dispenser"? This would allow us to say things like "I say, old fellow, can you direct me to the nearest aqueous refreshment dispenser?", a turn of phrase that fits well with the monocle and bowler hats that we're all wearing.
February 18, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
But of course. The aqueous refreshment dispenser is just there, next to the chocolate refreshment dispenser and the "refresh yourself" pouches.
*attempts to twirl painted-on mustache as monocle drops into champagne glass*
February 18, 2011
reesetee commented on the word water fountain
*monocled raconteur ambles in*
*retrieves ruzuzu's monocle from champagne glass by drinking the champagne*
*cleans monocle and hands it to ruzuzu*
*departs*
February 18, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
Zounds!
*replaces monocle, then promptly falls into the chocolate fountain for no good reason at all*
February 18, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
*splutters*
February 18, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
Could someone hand me a "refresh yourself" pouch?
February 18, 2011
pterodactyl commented on the word water fountain
You don't need a good reason to fall into a chocolate fountain. You do, however, need a good reason to get out of one.
February 18, 2011
pterodactyl commented on the word water fountain
*dons mask, snorkel, and swim fins, then "falls" into chocolate fountain*
February 18, 2011
reesetee commented on the word water fountain
Ptero's right.
*swan dives into chocolate refreshment dispenser*
February 18, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
*is convinced*
*promptly falls right back in*
February 18, 2011
PossibleUnderscore commented on the word water fountain
*hovers behind the refreshment pouches*
You're all going to be sticky and yuck...
February 18, 2011
hernesheir commented on the word water fountain
I drank pineapple juice from a fountain at a Dole pineapple cannery in Hawaii - not a big deal since I'd planted and picked pineapples for the company (Castle and Cook) on Lanai all summer, and was allowed to take home and eat 2 ripe pineapples from the field each day, but still - how cool is that? Endless fresh pineapple juice from a fountain? I'd take that over a chocolate fountain, once I got sick of chocolate.
February 19, 2011
reesetee commented on the word water fountain
Yum. Say, you could have dipped those free pineapples in chocolate, you know. ;-)
February 19, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
*falls off monocycle and lands in chocolate fountain*
October 7, 2011
leaden commented on the word water fountain
Egad! A chocolate-covered monocled unicyclist!
October 8, 2011
ruzuzu commented on the word water fountain
That's how I roll.
October 8, 2011