aqua-

¹

1. variant of aqui-.

aqua

²

[ak-wuh, ah-kwuh]

noun

plural

aquae, aquas 

1. Chiefly Pharmacology.

   1. water.

   2. a liquid.

   3. a solution, especially in water.

2. a light greenish-blue color.

adjective

1. having the color aqua.

aqua

/ ˈækwə /

noun

1. water: used in compound names of certain liquid substances (as in aqua regia ) or solutions of substances in water (as in aqua ammoniae ), esp in the names of pharmacological solutions

adjective

1. short for aquamarine

Word History and Origins

Origin of aqua¹

Probably originally attributive use of aqua, or generalized from words in which it is etymologically the head noun of a phrase, as aquamarine, aquatint

Origin of aqua²

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: water

Word History and Origins

Origin of aqua¹

Latin: water

Example Sentences

Eateries in Italy, Denmark and the U.K. offer their own aqua explorations.

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First Anthony began to layer vanilla scents on to his preferred smoky, aqua, woody fragrances.

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Fingernails painted aqua blue, a teenage girl’s beauty routine.

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Merchants paused selling piñatas, street food and aquas frescas to take photos of the runners and cheer them on.

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When 83-year-old Maureen Welch set off for her weekly aqua aerobics class in October, she had no idea that her life was about to drastically change.

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Related Words

• broth 
• juice 
• vapor 

When To Use

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-.