Is water wet? Or does it wet things? ?

Answer 1

Actually water is not that good at wetting things which is why we have detergents.

Answer 2

We use water as the type example of a substance that is wet, so yes.  How do you want to define the meaning of that word "wet" though, leads to some interesting possible implications.  One scientific idea of wet is the ability of a liquid to spread across surfaces when it comes in contact with them, so wetness is a matter of how weak the surface tension of the liquid mass is, with lower surface tension equaling "wetter". Thus, soaps tend to make water "wetter" if you accept that idea of the meaning of the word "wet".

Of course, wetness also depends on how powerfully the liquid might be to being attracted to a surface, so the nature of the surface is also a factor in wetness.  It isn't just a question of the nature of the fluid itself.  Wetness varies with whatever you are using to judge the wetness with.

For me, though, as a human being, wetness is the feeling of being covered in part or in total by water.  It is a sensation-based idea, very subjective.

Answer 3

Water is a unique thing it's both a solvent and a surfactant. So as a solvent you could say it wetted something, as a surfactant you could say it displays the properties of being  wet.

Answer 4

If we define "wet" as a sensation that we get when a liquid comes in contact with us, then yes, water is wet to us. If we define "wet" as "made of liquid or moisture", then water is definitely wet because it is made of liquid, and in this sense, all liquids are wet because they are all made of liquids

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Answer 5

Another philosopher, is dirt dirty, or does it make things dirty. Showing intelligence by asking stupid questions.