Meaning & use
aquatic
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Living or growing in water, or relating to water.
Grammar: Used before a noun: aquatic plants, aquatic life. It is not usually used after a verb like 'be'.
Patterns
- aquatic plants
- aquatic animals
- aquatic environment
The lake is home to many aquatic plants and fish.
Aquatic animals such as dolphins and seals are adapted to life in the water.
Pollution is harming the aquatic ecosystem in the river.
adjectivebefore a noun
Taking place in or on water, especially as a sport or activity.
Grammar: Used before a noun: aquatic sports, aquatic center.
Patterns
- aquatic sports
- aquatic center
- aquatic event
Swimming and diving are popular aquatic sports.
The new aquatic center has a large pool for competitions.
She won a medal in an aquatic event at the Olympics.
nouncountabletechnical
An animal or plant that lives in water.
Grammar: Usually plural: aquatics. Refers to organisms, not to water itself.
Patterns
- aquatics
- marine aquatics
The aquarium displays a wide range of aquatics from tropical rivers.
Scientists study aquatics to understand how they survive in different water conditions.
Word forms
| plural noun | aquatics |
|---|
Common combinations
- aquatic life
- The dam has changed the aquatic life in the valley.
- aquatic plants
- Aquatic plants provide food and shelter for small fish.
- aquatic sports
- The school offers aquatic sports like swimming and water polo.
- aquatic environment
- Oil spills damage the aquatic environment for years.
- aquatic center
- The city built a new aquatic center with a diving pool.
Synonyms and how they differ
- marine
- Marine specifically means related to the sea, while aquatic covers both fresh and salt water.
- water
- Water is a general noun or adjective for anything to do with water, but aquatic is more formal and often scientific.
Opposites
Word family
- aquatically adverb
- In a way that relates to water or water sports.
- aquatics noun
- Water sports or activities, or water-dwelling organisms.
Commonly confused: aquatic or aqueduct?
aquatic vs aqueduct
An aqueduct is a structure like a bridge for carrying water, while aquatic means living or happening in water.
Practice
Which word best completes the sentence? 'The pond is full of ______ plants such as lilies and reeds.'
Choose one answer.
Aquatic means growing in water, which fits a pond. Marine refers only to the sea, terrestrial means land, and aerial means air.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aquatic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.