aqueduct
Americannoun
-
Civil Engineering.
-
a conduit or artificial channel for conducting water from a distance, usually by means of gravity.
-
a bridgelike structure that carries a water conduit or canal across a valley or over a river.
-
-
Anatomy. a canal or passage through which liquids pass.
noun
-
a conduit used to convey water over a long distance, either by a tunnel or more usually by a bridge
-
a structure, usually a bridge, that carries such a conduit or a canal across a valley or river
-
a channel in an organ or part of the body, esp one that conveys a natural body fluid
Etymology
Origin of aqueduct
< Medieval Latin aquēductus < Latin aquae ductus a drawing off of water. See aqua, duct
Explanation
An aqueduct is a bridge-like system built to move water from one location to another. The ancient Romans were particularly famous for their aqueducts and some still stand today. The Romans didn't invent aqueducts, but they did help spawn the English word for one. Aqueduct comes from the Latin word aquæductus, which itself is from the roots aqua, meaning water, and ducere, meaning "to lead." Because of the root word aqua, there is a tendency to try to spell aqueduct with an A in place of the E, but now you'll know better.
Vocabulary lists containing aqueduct
Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
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!
Vocabulary from Beyoncé's "Lemonade"
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!
Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
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.
"A lot of our customers do the Llangollen Canal to do the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct," he said.
From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025
When Katie began racing at Aqueduct in Queens, N.Y., where Dylan was on his way to stardom, her brother was quick to offer advice.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025
She restarted her career at Saratoga in New York before arriving at Aqueduct in December 2022.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025
DWP diverts water from two of those creeks, Lee Vining and Rush, sending supplies flowing nearly 340 miles south in the Los Angeles Aqueduct.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025
The first route is over the Georgetown Aqueduct, a mile and a half northwest of the White House.
From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly
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.
