Definition

1. Noun:
   • A transparent tank or container filled with water for keeping and displaying live aquatic animals and plants: An aquarium is a controlled environment, typically made of glass or acrylic, designed to house fish and other underwater creatures for observation, decoration, or study.
   • A building or institution where such tanks are publicly exhibited: An aquarium can also refer to a large public facility, like a museum, containing many tanks and pools for displaying aquatic life to visitors.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She has a small aquarium on her desk with two goldfish.
  • The children were fascinated by the colorful fish in the aquarium.
  • We spent the afternoon at the city aquarium, watching the sharks and sea turtles.

Advanced Usage

• "To set up/maintain an aquarium": This phrase refers to the process of establishing and caring for a fish tank, including installing equipment, cycling the water, and managing the health of its inhabitants.
  • It takes patience and knowledge to properly maintain a saltwater aquarium.

Variants and Related Words

• Aquarist (noun): A person who keeps or maintains an aquarium.
  • An experienced aquarist knows how to balance the water chemistry.

Synonyms

• Fish tank: A common, informal term for a small, usually home-based aquarium.
• Marineland / Oceanarium: Terms often used for large public aquariums, especially those focusing on marine (seawater) environments or large ocean creatures.

Related Phrases

• Aquarium filter / Aquarium heater: Specific equipment used within an aquarium. (Note: These are compound nouns using "aquarium" as a modifier).
• Public aquarium: A specific term for the large, institutional meaning of the word.

Noun

1. a tank or pool or bowl filled with water for keeping live fish and underwater animals