aquarium

American  

[uh-kwair-ee-uhm] / əˈkwɛər i əm /

noun

plural

aquariums, aquaria

1. a glass-sided tank, bowl, or the like, in which fish or other living aquatic animals or plants are kept.

2. a building or institution in which fish or other aquatic animals or plants are kept for exhibit, study, etc.

---

aquarium British  

/ əˈkwɛərɪəm /

noun

1. a tank, bowl, or pool in which aquatic animals and plants are kept for pleasure, study, or exhibition

2. a building housing a collection of aquatic life, as for exhibition

---

Other Word Forms

• aquarial adjective

Etymology

Origin of aquarium

1840–50; blend of Latin aquārius of or for water ( aqu ( a ) water + -ārius -ary ) and vivarium; -arium

Example Sentences

Last year, we went to the aquarium in Long Beach, which was great fun.

From Los Angeles Times

He tells me the creation of the AI water park, zoo and aquarium in Croydon was "just part of the progression of things getting more and more funny or absurd".

From BBC

When I was on my field trip at the aquarium, I got on the F train and left.

From Literature

With the new rehabilitation area, the aquarium is going from being able to treat one or two turtles at a time to up to four.

From Los Angeles Times

At Barnum’s American Museum in New York City, visitors could see America’s first aquarium, a menagerie of exotic animals, performances by magicians and ventriloquists, and waxworks.

From The Wall Street Journal