aqua
noun
aqua
1 American
[ak-wuh, ah-kwuh]
/ ˈæk wə, ˈɑ kwə /
aqua-
2
American
aqua
British
/ ˈækwə /
noun
adjective
Usage
What does aqua- mean? Aqua- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “water.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. Aquia comes from Latin aqua, meaning “water.” The Greek translation is hýdōr, meaning “water,” which is the source of such combining forms as hydro-. What are variants of aqua-?In some terms, aqua- becomes aqui-, as in aquifer, from French aquifère. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on aqui-.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aqua1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: water
Origin of aqua-2
Probably originally attributive use of aqua, or generalized from words in which it is etymologically the head noun of a phrase, as aquamarine, aquatint
Explanation
Aqua is a greenish-blue color, often thought of as the shade of water. When you buy a new blender, you might decide that the aqua one will brighten up your kitchen. Aqua is pretty close to the color known as cyan, almost exactly halfway between green and blue on the color spectrum. You can buy aqua clothing or aqua paint if you love the color and want your dining room to feel cool and colorful. The word aqua is sometimes also used to mean "water," and in fact the Latin root means "water, the sea, or rain."
Vocabulary lists containing aqua
Blue
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Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
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Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
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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:
X factor: There are plenty of low-impact, aqua workouts in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026
Next season’s salary cap is projected to be just above $300 million—and the Dolphins may be dedicating around two-thirds of that to players no longer wearing aqua on Sundays.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026
Eateries in Italy, Denmark and the U.K. offer their own aqua explorations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
Wearing a purple, yellow and magenta colorblocked T-shirt, Okatsuka flashes aqua nails topped off with hot dog charms.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2025
The ocean around her faded from black to blue to bright aqua.
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
The artificer keeps in hand two aquae, one of which is stronger than the other; the stronger is used at first, then the less strong, then at the last again the stronger.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
I do not speak of vigour and sprightliness; 'tis not reason they should follow me beyond their limits: "Non hoc amplius est liminis, aut aquae Coelestis, patiens latus."
From The Essays of Montaigne — Complete by Montaigne, Michel de
Although all these aquae cleanse gold concentrates or dust from impurities, yet there are certain compositions which possess singular power.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
It is aquae vitae, water of life, or water that hath a health and life in it.
From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 03 by Bunyan, John
The Spanish army encamped, says Guicciardini, "in a place called by Livy, from its vicinity to Sessa, aquae Sinuessanae, being perhaps the marshes in which Marius hid himself."
From The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 3 by Prescott, William Hickling
Merchants paused selling piñatas, street food and aquas frescas to take photos of the runners and cheer them on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2025
If you like a calming effect, choose soothing aquas, limes and mints.
From Washington Post ● May 4, 2016
The bright aquas and greens are also gender-neutral for friends and cousins of both boys and girls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2015
Swirling and striped reds, whites, yellows, greens, aquas and blues surround you.
From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2014
The principal verb is tenebat, the subject ille, and the object aquas; so translate:— He used to stay the running waters by his song.
From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
