aqua

¹

[ ak-wuh, ah-kwuh ]

noun

, plural aq·uae [ak, -wee, ah, -kwee], aq·uas.

1. Chiefly Pharmacology.
   1. water.
   2. a liquid.
   3. a solution, especially in water.
2. a light greenish-blue color.

adjective

1. having the color aqua.

aqua-

²

1. variant of aqui-.

aqua

/ ˈækwə /

noun

1. water: used in compound names of certain liquid substances (as in aqua regia ) or solutions of substances in water (as in aqua ammoniae ), esp in the names of pharmacological solutions

adjective

1. short for aquamarine

Word History and Origins

Origin of aqua¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: water

Origin of aqua²

Probably originally attributive use of aqua, or generalized from words in which it is etymologically the head noun of a phrase, as aquamarine, aquatint

Word History and Origins

Origin of aqua¹

Latin: water

Example Sentences

“You just have to spray it with Aqua Net hairspray in its ‘face’,” Cummings said.

From BBC

Fury, meanwhile, rather unexpectedly made his way to the top table to the tune of Aqua's Barbie Girl.

From BBC

The public swarmed Đài’s shows clad in denim, leggings and neon tees, doused in Aqua Net.

From Los Angeles Times

“His eye contact is limited but thorough. He is sizing me up. He looks like a wolf about to rip my throat out before turning away, offering me my first glimpse at the superstructure — his hairstyle — buttressed atop his head with what must be gallons of Aqua Net.”

From Salon

Featuring bucket hats, bags, shorts, tops, coverups and more, the collection takes inspiration from the land and the ocean, featuring pieces in “mineral colors,” like aqua, and coral prints.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• broth
• juice
• vapor

Words That Use aqua-

What does aqua- mean?

Aqua– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “water.” It is occasionally used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.

Aquia comes from Latin aqua, meaning “water.” The Greek translation is ​​​​hýdōr, meaning “water,” which is the source of such combining forms as hydro–.

What are variants of aqua-?

In some terms, aqua– becomes aqui-, as in aquifer, from French aquifère. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on aqui–.

Examples of aqua-

One example of a term that features the form aqua– is aquanaut, “an undersea explorer.”

Aqua– means “water,” as we have seen. The –naut part of the word roughly means “sailor” or “pilot,” from Greek –naútēs. Aquanaut literally translates to “water pilot.”

What are some words that use the combining form aqua-?

• aquacade
• aquaculture
• aquafarm
• aquarium (using the equivalent form of aqua– in Latin)
• aquashow
• aquatic (using the equivalent form of aqua– in Latin)

What are some other forms that aqua– may be commonly confused with?

• agri-
• auri-

Break it down!

Given the meaning of aqua-, what is an aquafarm?