aquatic

[ uh-kwat-ik, uh-kwot- ]

adjective

1. of, in, or pertaining to water.
2. living or growing in water:

   aquatic plant life.

3. taking place or practiced on or in water:

   aquatic sports.

noun

1. an aquatic plant or animal.
2. aquatics, sports practiced on or in water.

aquatic

/ əˈkwɒt-; əˈkwætɪk /

adjective

1. growing, living, or found in water
2. sport performed in or on water

noun

1. a marine or freshwater animal or plant

aquatic

/ ə-kwăt′ĭk /

1. Relating to, living in, or growing in water.

Other Words From

• a·quati·cal·ly adverb
• nona·quatic adjective
• transa·quatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aquatic¹

1480–90; < Latin aquāticus, equivalent to aqu ( a ) water + -āticus ( -ate ¹, -ic ); replacing late Middle English aquatyque < Middle French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of aquatic¹

C15: from Latin aquāticus, from aqua water

Example Sentences

Chlorine from the salt can inhibit fish from spawning and reduce dissolved oxygen levels in the water, which harms fish and other aquatic life.

From Popular-Science

The aquatic blues of two Williams pictures that hang near “Wave Relief” complement its darker shades.

From Washington Post

To monitor aquatic animals and their underwater world, Deng often uses networks of such beacons.

From Science News For Students

These cells detect chemicals produced by many aquatic animals, explains Nicholas Bellono.

From Science News For Students

The photos depict nature, mostly in the form of aquatic birds, accommodating itself to AlexRenew’s water-treatment lagoons and the outfall pipes where effluent can enter the river.

From Washington Post

Hippopotamuses eat aquatic vegetation, like water hyacinths—loads of it, Irwin learned.

From The Daily Beast

Description: A “swamp cabbage” is a semi-aquatic tropical plant.

From The Daily Beast

Swimmers now enjoy its 12,000-square-meter aquatic theme park.

From The Daily Beast

Paper presented at the 2008 World Aquatic Conference in Colorado Springs, Colo. 12.

From The Daily Beast

They said that in any case the incident only highlights their worry that the Gulf is an aquatic tinderbox.

From The Daily Beast

The ponds were half covered with the white water-lily, and some other aquatic plants of the country.

From Project Gutenberg

Then happened one of those aquatic incidents which lend an atmosphere all their own to amphibious war.

From Project Gutenberg

At the foot of the hill lay a deep morass, covered with the nelumbo and other aquatic plants.

From Project Gutenberg

The first aquatic creatures were succeeded by the amphibia, the reptiles.

From Project Gutenberg

A little more complicated than that of the fish, this method is probably older, and seems possible only for aquatic animals.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amphibious
• floating
• marine
• maritime