aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwer-ē-əm 

plural aquariums or aquaria ə-ˈkwer-ē-ə 

1

: a container (such as a glass tank) or an artificial pond in which living aquatic animals or plants are kept

2

: an establishment where aquatic organisms are kept and exhibited

Examples of aquarium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Mermaids will be visiting the aquarium until Sunday, February 2, 2025. —Aaron Flaum, Hartford Courant, 31 Jan. 2025

Museum Month offers half-price admission February is San Diego Museum Month, which offers half-off admission to more than 70 museums, gardens, aquariums, historic sites, nature and wildlife centers and state parks through Feb. 28. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025

Whatever happens, the aquarium says, Yoko has already made her mark. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 28 Jan. 2025

The aquarium and theme park chain, famous for featuring whales and dolphins, had owed the Californian city millions of dollars in rent which went unpaid during the COVID-19 pandemic. —Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably alteration of aquatic vivarium

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aquarium

• tropical aquarium

Kids Definition

aquarium

noun

aquar·​i·​um ə-ˈkwar-ē-əm 

-ˈkwer-

plural aquariums or aquaria

-ē-ə

: a container (as a glass tank) in which living water animals or plants are kept

also : an establishment where collections of such animals or plants are kept and shown