aquatic

1 of 2

adjective

aquat·​ic ə-ˈkwä-tik How to pronounce aquatic (audio) -ˈkwa- How to pronounce aquatic (audio)
1
: growing or living in or frequenting water
aquatic mosquito larvae
2
: taking place in or on water
aquatic sports
aquatically adverb

aquatic

2 of 2

noun

1
: an aquatic animal or plant
2
aquatics ə-ˈkwä-tiks How to pronounce aquatic (audio)
-ˈkwa-
plural in form but singular or plural in construction : water sports

Examples of aquatic in a Sentence

Adjective a lifelong fascination with sharks and other fearsome aquatic creatures
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Excited by the aquatic visitors, scientists tracked down the dolphins and collected a small tissue sample for further analysis, officials said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Water lilies, plants in the genus Nymphaea, are aquatic blooms that grow in ponds and water gardens. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2024 Mariners once believed aquamarine could calm waves and protect sailors during their aquatic voyages, the Geological Institute of America reports. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 That includes 962 species of birds, 94 species of terrestrial mammals, 64 aquatic mammal species, 58 species of fish, 10 species of reptiles and one insect, the monarch butterfly. Lina Zeldovich, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 But toxins produced by the algae can also kill fish and other aquatic life, and in humans can lead to diarrhea, paralysis, dizziness, and memory loss, as well as abnormal liver function, vomiting, and numbness. TIME, 5 Feb. 2024 The reason: to stave off the potential spread of aquatic invasive species in the boat's ballast tanks. Journal Sentinel, 27 Jan. 2024 Laura is a science news writer, covering a wide variety of subjects, but she is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024 The restaurant was meant to have an aquatic theme, with Mattos telling The Wall Street Journal that it was inspired by Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
Those interested in an aquatics position must apply online in advance to receive an invitation, Cartwright said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2024 The world aquatics championships come to Doha next month and the Asian Games will be here in 2030. James Robson, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024 The facility, and the teams that use it, are a part of aquatics history. Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2024 Coincidentally, Magni had given a presentation on forensic aquatics at a training academy of Italy’s Carabinieri, the country’s military police, shortly before Federica died. Jordan Michael Smith, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Jan. 2024 In the short term, Seine-Saint-Denis must build the Olympic Village – a collection of apartment complexes across three neighboring suburbs – a connecting bridge, and a new aquatics center. Colette Davidson, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Jan. 2024 Today El Corazón has 22 soccer fields, a senior center, aquatics center, and a plan for the first of nine parks on site. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Nov. 2023 In the golden aquatic, our chairs, napkins and clothes blaze ablaze with shiny, shiny. Meredi Ortega, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023 Now in its third year, the program offers wages competitive to pools in Greater Boston, said Jeremy Stiles, senior association director of aquatics for the YMCA at the Waltham branch during the Swimposium. Alysa Guffey, BostonGlobe.com, 24 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aquatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

earlier, "of water," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "living in water," going back to Old French aquatike "having the nature of water," borrowed from Latin aquāticus "of water, growing or living in water," from aqua "water" + -āticus, adjective suffix of appurtenance — more at island entry 1, -age

Noun

derivative of aquatic entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aquatic was circa 1600

Dictionary Entries Near aquatic

Cite this Entry

“Aquatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aquatic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aquatic

1 of 2 adjective
1
: growing or living in or often found in water
aquatic animals
2
: performed in or on water
aquatic sports

aquatic

2 of 2 noun
: an aquatic animal or plant

Medical Definition

aquatic

adjective
: growing or living in or frequenting water
aquatic mosquito larvae

More from Merriam-Webster on aquatic

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