museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm How to pronounce museum (audio)
: an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value
American Museum of Natural History
also : a place where objects are exhibited
an art museum

Examples of museum in a Sentence

a museum of natural history a trip to the Museum of Natural History
Recent Examples on the Web Stevenson drew inspiration for the Legacy Sites from museums and art exhibitions around the world. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The Jacobs building had been a centerpiece for many of the museum’s Latino initiatives. Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 New Columbia Pub Quiz is running the show, asking questions that focus on the achievements of the formidable women in the museum’s art collection. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024 If skies are clear, the museum will hold an eclipse viewing event outside near the Green Clock on Wells Street. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2024 The town has a theater, art museums, and a weekly farmers market each Saturday. Jacqueline Dole, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024 The museum recently received a $500,000 challenge match grant from the National Endowment for Humanities to increase the museum's accessibility, including a modern passenger elevator to supplement the 98-year-old freight elevator. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 19 Mar. 2024 Residents can also tour the home where Elvis Presley grew up, visit the museum dedicated to him, and see the church where the Presley family attended services. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 12 Mar. 2024 Schweitzer said that packing and moving a museum is not as simple as packing and moving a house. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'museum.' 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

Latin Museum place for learned occupation, from Greek Mouseion, from neuter of Mouseios of the Muses, from Mousa

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of museum was circa 1660

Dictionary Entries Near museum

Cite this Entry

“Museum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/museum. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

museum

noun
mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm How to pronounce museum (audio)
: a building in which interesting and valuable things (as works of art or historical or scientific objects) are collected and shown to the public
Etymology

from Latin Museum "a place devoted to the Muses, a place for the study of special arts and sciences," from Greek Mouseion (same meaning), from Mouseios "of the Muses," from Mousa "Muse, goddess of an art or science" — related to music

Word Origin
The ancient Greeks worshipped nine sister goddesses, each of whom was called a Mousa. In English we now refer to them as the Muses. The Greeks believed that each Muse was the goddess of a particular art or science. A place that was dedicated to these goddesses—and to the arts and sciences for which they stood—was called a Mouseion. The Greek Mouseion became Museum in Latin, from which it was borrowed into English about 300 years ago.

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