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
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Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
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Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
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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.
See Examples For:
X factor: There are plenty of low-impact, aqua workouts in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
But that was before the Miami Grand Prix moved in—before the artificial marina, the aqua chicane or the race weekends that packed in 275,000 fans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
First Anthony began to layer vanilla scents on to his preferred smoky, aqua, woody fragrances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025
Wearing a purple, yellow and magenta colorblocked T-shirt, Okatsuka flashes aqua nails topped off with hot dog charms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2025
Her aqua hair lies flat instead of in spikes and you can see the roots growing in gray.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
I do not speak of vigour and sprightliness; 'tis not reason they should follow me beyond their limits: "Non hoc amplius est liminis, aut aquae Coelestis, patiens latus."
From The Essays of Montaigne — Complete by Montaigne, Michel de
Ac, however, does not at all correspond to the well-known corruptions of aquae still found in the names of places in France where the Romans constructed baths.
From Wanderings by southern waters, eastern Aquitaine by Barker, Edward Harrison
I do not speak of vigour and sprightliness; 'tis not reason they should follow me beyond their limits: "Non hoc amplius est liminis, aut aquae Coelestis, patiens latus."
From The Essays of Montaigne — Volume 19 by Cotton, Charles
Who can trace the filum aquae of the most erratic and arrogant river in all the world?
From The Law of the Land by Hough, Emerson
Saturday and Sunday post missam aquae, as p.
From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II. by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose
Merchants paused selling piñatas, street food and aquas frescas to take photos of the runners and cheer them on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2025
Rioux is a fabulous artist with a highly distinctive style: Here cat-eyed humans live in a world of aquas and rusts, golds and shadows.
From New York Times ● Jun. 10, 2022
If you like a calming effect, choose soothing aquas, limes and mints.
From Washington Post ● May 4, 2016
The bright aquas and greens are also gender-neutral for friends and cousins of both boys and girls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2015
The principal verb is tenebat, the subject ille, and the object aquas; so translate:— He used to stay the running waters by his song.
From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund
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.
