museum

[myoo-zee-uhm]

noun

1. a building or place where works of art, scientific specimens, or other objects of permanent value are kept and displayed.

museum

/ mjuːˈzɪəm /

noun

1. a place or building where objects of historical, artistic, or scientific interest are exhibited, preserved, or studied

Other Word Forms

• intermuseum adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of museum¹

1605–15; < Latin mūsēum place sacred to the Muses, building devoted to learning or the arts (referring especially to the scholarly institute founded in Alexandria about 280 b.c.) < Greek Mouseîon, equivalent to Moûs ( a ) Muse + -eion suffix of place

Word History and Origins

Origin of museum¹

C17: via Latin from Greek Mouseion home of the Muses, from Mousa _Muse

Example Sentences

She was also a scuba diver and a car enthusiast - her beloved Toyota Supra is now displayed in a Nara museum.

From BBC

Tourists were turned away from museums in Washington and New York, including at Federal Hall in Manhattan.

From BBC

Washington DC's famous Smithsonian Institution museums will stay open until at least next Monday, 6 October.

From BBC

Morgan and I came mainly for the butterflies and the third-of-a-mile nature trail that circles the museum.

From Salon

It's very rare for a community to take such a measure, but talking to Marieke Verweij, director of the village's museum, you can understand why they want to do this.

From BBC

Related Words

• building 
• foundation 
• gallery 
• hall 
• institution 
• library 
• salon