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aqueous

American  
[ay-kwee-uhs, ak-wee-] / ˈeɪ kwi əs, ˈæk wi- /

adjective

  1. of, like, or containing water; watery.

    an aqueous solution.

  2. (of rocks or sediments) formed of matter deposited in or by water.


aqueous British  
/ ˈeɪkwɪəs, ˈækwɪ- /

adjective

  1. of, like, or containing water

  2. dissolved in water

    aqueous ammonia

  3. (of rocks, deposits, etc) formed from material laid down in water

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

aqueous Scientific  
/ ā′kwē-əs /
  1. Chemistry Relating to or dissolved in water.

  2. Geology Formed from matter deposited by water. Certain sedimentary rocks, such as limestone, are aqueous.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of aqueous

First recorded in 1635–45; aqu(a) + -eous


Explanation

When something has an aqueous appearance, it looks watery or has the effect of water. Some marble can appear aqueous or have a watery-looking surface pattern. The word aqueous comes from the Latin aqua meaning "water." If you flip over a product package and read its ingredients, often you'll see water listed at the top, which means that whatever is inside is an aqueous solution, or one that contains water. Salt water is an example of an aqueous solution because salt easily dissolves in water. Essentially, something aqueous either resembles water or is made from water.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing aqueous

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:

The aqueous extract is produced by mixing sunflower seed flour with water and filtering it, without requiring additional physical or chemical treatments.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 8, 2026

The sponge was tested in four aqueous environments: irrigation water, pond water, lake water and seawater.

From Salon ● Jan. 2, 2025

This material features amines that capture the CO2; next-generation variants are being tested as alternatives to aqueous amines for CO2 capture in pilot-scale plants, and as a way to capture CO2 directly from ambient air.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 14, 2024

During the internship, he was a lead author on a research paper with Barge, Khodayari and others on how nitrates react with iron compounds in aqueous environments.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2024

I nodded and sank into an aqueous sleep.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

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