aqua
noun
aqua
1 American
[ak-wuh, ah-kwuh]
/ ˈæk wə, ˈɑ kwə /
aqua-
2
American
aqua
British
/ ˈækwə /
noun
adjective
Usage
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-.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aqua1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin: water
Origin of aqua-2
Probably originally attributive use of aqua, or generalized from words in which it is etymologically the head noun of a phrase, as aquamarine, aquatint
Explanation
Aqua is a greenish-blue color, often thought of as the shade of water. When you buy a new blender, you might decide that the aqua one will brighten up your kitchen. Aqua is pretty close to the color known as cyan, almost exactly halfway between green and blue on the color spectrum. You can buy aqua clothing or aqua paint if you love the color and want your dining room to feel cool and colorful. The word aqua is sometimes also used to mean "water," and in fact the Latin root means "water, the sea, or rain."
Vocabulary lists containing aqua
Blue
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Elements of the Universe: Aqua ("Water")
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Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A massive aqua sofa in the living room that looks like a long wave because it faces the water.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
But that was before the Miami Grand Prix moved in—before the artificial marina, the aqua chicane or the race weekends that packed in 275,000 fans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026
Kyra was attending a birthday party at the Berkshire aqua park on 6 August 2022 when she went missing.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2025
Hundreds of attendees lie on blankets, wearing wireless headphones rimmed with aqua lights.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025
I grit my teeth as Venia, a woman with aqua hair and gold tattoos above her eyebrows, yanks a strip of Fabric from my leg tearing out the hair beneath it.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
The Spanish army encamped, says Guicciardini, "in a place called by Livy, from its vicinity to Sessa, aquae Sinuessanae, being perhaps the marshes in which Marius hid himself."
From The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 3 by Prescott, William Hickling
Saturday and Sunday post missam aquae, as p.
From A Plain Introduction to the Criticism of the New Testament, Vol. II. by Scrivener, Frederick Henry Ambrose
I do not speak of vigour and sprightliness; 'tis not reason they should follow me beyond their limits: "Non hoc amplius est liminis, aut aquae Coelestis, patiens latus."
From The Essays of Montaigne — Volume 19 by Cotton, Charles
It is aquae vitae, water of life, or water that hath a health and life in it.
From Works of John Bunyan — Volume 03 by Bunyan, John
The former were driven from their homes by a peculiar interdictio ignis et aquae; the other—by an interdictio scientiae.
From History of the Jews in Russia and Poland. Volume II From the death of Alexander I. until the death of Alexander III. (1825-1894) by Friedlaender, I.
Merchants paused selling piñatas, street food and aquas frescas to take photos of the runners and cheer them on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2025
If you like a calming effect, choose soothing aquas, limes and mints.
From Washington Post ● May 4, 2016
The bright aquas and greens are also gender-neutral for friends and cousins of both boys and girls.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2015
If the New York shows seemed to be advertising a white sale, London was an orgy of neon pinks and oranges, acid yellows and cool aquas.
From New York Times ● Sep. 22, 2010
The principal verb is tenebat, the subject ille, and the object aquas; so translate:— He used to stay the running waters by his song.
From Helps to Latin Translation at Sight by Luce, Edmund
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
