aquariums

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Glass or plastic containers filled with water where people keep fish and other water animals or plants.

   Grammar: The usual plural is 'aquariums'; 'aquaria' is also correct but sounds more formal or scientific.

   Patterns

   • keep something in an aquarium
   • a freshwater aquarium
   • a marine aquarium

   She keeps three goldfish in a small aquarium on her desk.

   The new aquarium at the zoo has a large tank for sharks.

   We bought a bigger aquarium so the fish would have more room.

2. 2nouncountable

   A building where the public can see many kinds of fish and sea creatures in large tanks.

   Grammar: When talking about the place, you often say 'the aquarium' or 'an aquarium'.

   Patterns

   • visit an aquarium
   • go to the aquarium
   • a public aquarium

   The city aquarium attracts thousands of visitors every year.

   We spent the afternoon at the aquarium watching the dolphins.

   The aquarium has a tunnel where you can walk under the fish.

Word forms

Common combinations

fish tank

He cleaned the fish tank and changed the water.

marine aquarium

A marine aquarium needs salt water, not fresh water.

aquarium fish

These colorful aquarium fish are easy to keep.

aquarium plant

The aquarium plant helps keep the water clean.

Synonyms and how they differ

fish tank

A more everyday term for a home container for fish; 'aquarium' is also used for large public buildings.

tank

A general word for any large container of liquid; 'aquarium' is more specific to keeping water animals.

Word family

aquarist noun

A person who keeps or studies fish in aquariums.

aquatic adjective

Living or growing in water.

Commonly confused: aquariums or aquarium?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “aquariums”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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