ENGLISH
REFERENCE

aquarium

n.
US //əˈkwɛɹiəm// UK //ɐkwˈeəɹiəm// aquar·i·um
  1. 1 a fish tank (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a glass container filled with water for keeping fish and water plants as pets.

    a transparent tank or container, typically made of glass or acrylic, used for keeping live aquatic animals and plants.

    Example

    He spent the afternoon cleaning the glass of his tropical fish aquarium.

    Example

    Maintaining a saltwater aquarium requires precise control over salinity and temperature to ensure the health of the delicate coral reef species.

    Usage

    Countable noun.
    • fish tank
    • vivarium
  2. 2 a public exhibition (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a large building where the public can go to see many types of fish and sea creatures.

    a public institution or commercial building where live aquatic animals are exhibited to the public.

    Example

    The children were excited to see the sharks at the city aquarium.

    Example

    The national aquarium recently opened a new wing dedicated to the conservation of endangered sea turtles and local coastal ecosystems.

    Usage

    Countable noun.
    • oceanarium
    • marine park
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ékʷeh₂ Proto-Italic *akʷā Latin aqua Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āsios Latin -ārius Latin aquārius Latin aquāriumbor. English aquarium Borrowed from Latin aquārium, neuter of aquārius (“of or pertaining to water”), from aqua + -arium. Doublet of ewer; see also Aquarius. Also claimed to be coined by English naturalist Philip Henry Gosse, as a blend of aquatic + vivarium.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026