Definition

Noun: A building or institution dedicated to the acquisition, conservation, research, communication, and exhibition of objects of scientific, historical, cultural, or artistic significance for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Usage

The word "museum" is used to refer to the institution itself. It is typically preceded by an article ("a," "the") or a possessive determiner ("our," "their"). It can be modified by adjectives describing its type or focus (e.g., art museum, natural history museum, local museum).

Examples

• We visited the museum to see the new dinosaur exhibit.
• The city's art museum has an impressive collection of modern paintings.
• She donated the antique vase to the history museum.
• Admission to the national museum is free on Sundays.

Advanced Usage

• "museum piece": An object old or rare enough to be suitable for a museum; often used figuratively to describe a person or thing that is antiquated.
  • That vintage car is a real museum piece.
  • His ideas about management are practically museum pieces.

Variants and Related Words

• Museum-quality (adj): Of a standard high enough to be included in a museum collection.
  • The restoration was so precise it is now museum-quality.

Synonyms

• Gallery (often used for art collections)
• Institution
• Repository
• Collection

Related Phrases

• Living museum: A site or institution that recreates historical settings or ways of life, often with costumed interpreters.
  • The colonial village operates as a living museum.
• Museum fatigue: A state of mental or physical tiredness induced by viewing museum exhibits for an extended period.
  • After three hours, the children were suffering from museum fatigue.

Noun

1. a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value