aqua
noun
aqua
1 American
[ak-wuh, ah-kwuh]
/ ˈæk wə, ˈɑ kwə /
aqua-
2
American
aqua
British
/ ˈækwə /
noun
adjective
Usage
What does aqua- mean? Aqua- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “water.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. Aquia comes from Latin aqua, meaning “water.” The Greek translation is hýdōr, meaning “water,” which is the source of such combining forms as hydro-. What are variants of aqua-?In some terms, aqua- becomes aqui-, as in aquifer, from French aquifère. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on aqui-.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aqua1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: water
Origin of aqua-2
Probably originally attributive use of aqua, or generalized from words in which it is etymologically the head noun of a phrase, as aquamarine, aquatint
Explanation
Aqua is a greenish-blue color, often thought of as the shade of water. When you buy a new blender, you might decide that the aqua one will brighten up your kitchen. Aqua is pretty close to the color known as cyan, almost exactly halfway between green and blue on the color spectrum. You can buy aqua clothing or aqua paint if you love the color and want your dining room to feel cool and colorful. The word aqua is sometimes also used to mean "water," and in fact the Latin root means "water, the sea, or rain."
Vocabulary lists containing aqua
Blue
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Next season’s salary cap is projected to be just above $300 million—and the Dolphins may be dedicating around two-thirds of that to players no longer wearing aqua on Sundays.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026
First Anthony began to layer vanilla scents on to his preferred smoky, aqua, woody fragrances.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025
Fingernails painted aqua blue, a teenage girl’s beauty routine.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025
Hundreds of attendees lie on blankets, wearing wireless headphones rimmed with aqua lights.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2025
His toe was now a deep and angry aqua, but the anger and much of the pain had diminished.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
