fountain
[foun-tn]
- a spring or source of water; the source or head of a stream.
- the source or origin of anything.
- 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.
- a structure for discharging such a jet or a number of jets, often an elaborate or artistic work with basins, sculptures, etc.
- drinking fountain.
- soda fountain.
- a reservoir for a liquid to be supplied gradually or continuously, as in a fountain pen.
- Heraldry. a roundel barry-wavy, argent and azure.
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Origin of fountain
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
Synonyms
See more synonyms for fountain on Thesaurus.com2. birthplace, cradle, genesis, wellspring.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for fountain
Contemporary Examples
Terry Chung, an expert on fluidics and fountain systems, led the engineering of the mechanical systems.
Font of InventionSeptember 18, 2014
He wandered into Fountain City, a suburb of Knoxville, where he fended for himself.
A few of those community leaders invited Scopes to the drugstore, bought him a fountain drink, and convinced him to stand trial.
Depending on who you ask, cardio exercise is either the fountain of youth or the ticket to an early grave.
The Fountain was one long fight, The Wrestler was divorce, and then we reconciled on Black Swan.
‘Noah’ is a Global Warming Epic About the Battle Between Religion and Science, Says CinematographerMarlow Stern
March 27, 2014
Historical Examples
Then he moved from the fountain in the direction of the Strand.
The Foolish LoversSt. John G. Ervine
Perhaps the sweet drip of the fountain cooled his hot thoughts.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, MycenaeJennie Hall
Only the fountain and the shadows and the artist's brush moved there.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, MycenaeJennie Hall
They pay for the farm of this fountain about fifty crowns per annum.
And why they came toward the Fountain at all is a mystery; for they had no business there.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
fountain
- a jet or spray of water or some other liquid
- a structure from which such a jet or a number of such jets spurt, often incorporating figures, basins, etc
- a natural spring of water, esp the source of a stream
- a stream, jet, or cascade of sparks, lava, etc
- a principal source or origin
- a reservoir or supply chamber, as for oil in a lamp
- short for drinking fountain, soda fountain
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Word Origin
C15: from Old French fontaine, from Late Latin fontāna, from Latin fons spring, source
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for fountain
n.
early 15c., "spring of water that collects in a pool," from Old French fontaine "natural spring" (12c.), from Late Latin fontana "fountain, spring" (source of Spanish and Italian fontana), from noun use of fem. of Latin fontanus "of a spring," from fons (genitive fontis) "spring (of water);" cognate with Sanskrit dhanvati "flows, runs."
The extended sense of "artificial jet of water" (and the structures that make them) is first recorded c.1500. "A French fountain-pen is described in 1658 and Miss Burney used one in 1789" [Weekley].
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper