aquarium
Americannoun
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a glass-sided tank, bowl, or the like, in which fish or other living aquatic animals or plants are kept.
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a building or institution in which fish or other aquatic animals or plants are kept for exhibit, study, etc.
noun
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a tank, bowl, or pool in which aquatic animals and plants are kept for pleasure, study, or exhibition
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a building housing a collection of aquatic life, as for exhibition
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of aquarium
1840–50; blend of Latin aquārius of or for water ( aqu ( a ) water + -ārius -ary ) and vivarium; cf. -arium
Explanation
Aquarium can either describe a small tank, or an entire building that houses fish and other aquatic life. Your goldfish will probably feel right at home in the aquarium that's sitting on your desk, but a whale would be better off in a big aquarium where people buy tickets to see marine life. An aquarium can be small enough to fit in the average house, or big enough to house whales and accommodate millions of tourists each year. If you're talking about more than one of those tanks filled with fish and other marine life, you could say aquariums, but aquaria, from the original Latin term, is also an acceptable plural.
Vocabulary lists containing aquarium
Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
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"Alabanza: In Praise of Local 100" by Martin Espada
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aqua and hydr
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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.
The findings carry an important warning for pet owners, natural resource managers, and policymakers: while goldfish are common household pets, they can become a significant ecological threat outside the aquarium.
From Science Daily • Jun. 26, 2026
The authors also stress the need for stronger public education efforts so pet owners understand the environmental consequences of releasing aquarium animals into natural waterways.
From Science Daily • Jun. 26, 2026
Utah officials reported exposures at elementary schools, churches, an aquarium, Walmart stores, a ski resort and a youth gymnastics meet.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
They were filmed on arrival at Perth airport, splashed across front pages and followed to golf courses and even on a trip to an aquarium.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
She had once found a copy of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library hidden in an aquarium at her previous doctor’s office, and ever since she had wanted to hide one underwater.
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
