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.

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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

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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

Wealthy homeowners are spending big to install and maintain aquariums that look like living, three-dimensional art pieces.

From The Wall Street Journal

Plus, wealthy homeowners go all in on splashy home aquariums and a former Starbucks CEO packs it up for South Florida.

From The Wall Street Journal

A Chicago aquarium overcame one in a million odds to raise a warty frogfish.

From MarketWatch

Kitted out with running water, rocking chairs, big leafy plants and an aquarium, the space in Kings Heath, Birmingham has proven popular for those looking to de-stress from their busy lives.

From BBC

Under a blazing sun, the green sea turtle thwapped the surface of the San Gabriel River with her sole front flipper as aquarium staffers gripped her shell.

From Los Angeles Times