aquarium

Everyday

1. A glass tank filled with water where fish and other water animals and plants are kept, at home or at school. tree →
2. A building, like a zoo for water animals, where people go to see fish, sharks, turtles and other sea creatures. tree →

In the lessons

In science, a classroom aquarium helps pupils study fish, food chains, water plants, and how living things need oxygen, food and clean water. In everyday life families visit public aquariums on trips. Caring for an aquarium teaches responsibility: feeding, cleaning, checking the water temperature. Phrases: fish tank, public aquarium, aquarium glass, aquarium pump.

Examples

• We have a small aquarium with goldfish in our classroom. tree →
• At the aquarium we walked through a tunnel under the sharks. tree →
• Don't tap on the aquarium glass — it scares the fish. tree →
• The aquarium pump puts air bubbles into the water. tree →
• We cleaned the aquarium and changed some of the water. tree →
• The big aquarium has turtles, octopuses and jellyfish. tree →
• Plants in an aquarium give off oxygen. tree →

Note

Plural: aquariums (common) or aquaria (formal). Say «an aquarium». «Aqua» means water (as in aquatic, aqua). In everyday talk a home aquarium is often just called a «fish tank». Don't confuse with «Aquarius» (a star sign).