fountain

[foun-tn]

noun

1. a spring or source of water; the source or head of a stream.

2. the source or origin of anything.

   Synonyms: wellspring, genesis, cradle, birthplace

3. a jet or stream of water (or other liquid) made by mechanical means to spout or rise from an opening or structure, as to afford water for use, to cool the air, or to serve for ornament.

4. a structure for discharging such a jet or a number of jets, often an elaborate or artistic work with basins, sculptures, etc.

5. drinking fountain.

6. soda fountain.

7. a reservoir for a liquid to be supplied gradually or continuously, as in a fountain pen.

8. Heraldry.,  a roundel barry-wavy, argent and azure.

fountain

/ ˈfaʊntɪn /

noun

1. a jet or spray of water or some other liquid

2. a structure from which such a jet or a number of such jets spurt, often incorporating figures, basins, etc

3. a natural spring of water, esp the source of a stream

4. a stream, jet, or cascade of sparks, lava, etc

5. a principal source or origin

6. a reservoir or supply chamber, as for oil in a lamp

7. short for drinking fountain soda fountain

Other Word Forms

• fountained adjective
• fountainless adjective
• fountainlike adjective
• unfountained adjective
• fountain-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fountain¹

1375–1425; late Middle English fontayne < Old French fontaine < Late Latin fontāna, noun use of feminine of Latin fontānus of a spring, equivalent to font- (stem of fons ) spring + -ānus -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of fountain¹

C15: from Old French fontaine , from Late Latin fontāna , from Latin fons spring, source

Example Sentences

In April, at his first news conference since taking office, Kennedy spouted a fountain of misinformation about autism.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I’m lying in a giant fountain that must be a mile long and just as wide.

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After handing him his fountain pen and the receipt, she popped a whole chocolate in her mouth all at once, as she had often seen Lady Constance do.

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It was a new type of pen called a “fountain pen,” which could write line after line without having to be dipped into the inkwell.

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From water fountains to bathrooms, swimming pools and beaches, buses and trains, and schools, public facilities were designated either for White people or for Colored people.

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Related Words

• geyser 
• reservoir 
• stream