scuba
Americannoun
-
a portable breathing device for free-swimming divers, consisting of a mouthpiece joined by hoses to one or two tanks of compressed air that are strapped on the back.
verb (used without object)
noun
Etymology
Origin of scuba
1950–55; s(elf )- c(ontained) u(nderwater) b(reathing) a(pparatus)
Explanation
A scuba is a portable breathing device for deep sea divers. With the help of a scuba tank, divers can explore very deep parts of the ocean. You can use scuba for the compressed air tank itself, or to describe the divers who use it — scuba divers. Most of these scuba divers use masks and wear rubber fins on their feet to propel themselves through the water. Scuba devices are useful for recreation and tasks like coast guard search and rescue operations or marine biology observations. Scuba is an acronym, standing for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus."
Vocabulary lists containing scuba
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.
McLaren said he has never been put off scuba diving by the prospect of a jellyfish sting but he can understand why swimmers might be nervous.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
At 75, I still skydive regularly, scuba weekly and ride a bicycle to the local gym where I work out every week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
That plan initially failed and a last resort was discussed of teaching the trapped men how to scuba dive and swim out.
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
Without getting wet, we meet at the VR theater, put on some scuba gear and/or viewing gear and the screen takes us underwater visually so we “dive together.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 23, 2026
How could he be sure that Ian hadn’t used scuba equipment to swim through?
From "Stormbreaker" by Anthony Horowitz
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.
