What does "museum" mean?

1. (a building for exhibits) a place where interesting and valuable objects are kept for people to see. 2. (to visit museums) to spend time visiting different museums as a hobby or tourist activity. 3. (to place in a museum) to put an object into a museum collection to keep it safe.

museum

n. · v.

US //ˈmjuziəm// UK //mjuːzˈiəm// mu·se·um

1 a building for exhibits (n.)
A1 Beginner

a place where interesting and valuable objects are kept for people to see.

a building or institution that houses and displays objects of cultural, historical, or scientific importance.

Example

We spent the afternoon at the science museum looking at old planes.

Example

The national museum recently acquired a rare collection of medieval manuscripts that will be displayed in the new wing next spring.
- gallery
- exhibition
2 to visit museums (v.)
C1 Advanced Informal

to spend time visiting different museums as a hobby or tourist activity.

to engage in the activity of visiting museums, typically for leisure or education.

Example

We spent our entire weekend in London museuming until our feet hurt.

Example

After a morning of museuming through the city's historic district, the tourists were eager to find a quiet café for lunch.
- sightsee

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3 to place in a museum (v.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Formal

to put an object into a museum collection to keep it safe.

to archive or store an object within a museum setting for preservation.

Example

The rare coins were museumed to ensure they would not be damaged by light.

Example

The decision to museum the artifacts was met with some local resistance from those who wished to keep the items in their original chapel.
- archive
- preserve

Origin

From Latin mūsēum (“library, study”), from Ancient Greek Μουσεῖον (Mouseîon), shrine of the Muses (Μοῦσα (Moûsa)).