aquatic

aquatic — adjective

1. having to do with life or activity in water, or using water as the place where s

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having to do with life or activity in water, or using water as the place where something lives, grows, or happens.

Example

The wetland is home to many aquatic birds, insects, and plants.

before noun: aquatic birds / plants

Our school added aquatic exercise classes in the shallow training pool.

water-related activity, not animal or plant

Common collocations
  • aquatic plants
  • aquatic animals
  • aquatic insects
  • aquatic life
  • aquatic center
  • aquatic exercise
Synonyms
  • water-based

    works well for activities or businesses, but less naturally for living things.

  • water-dwelling

    mainly for animals or plants, not for sports or buildings.

  • marine

    usually means related to the sea, not water in general.

Antonyms
  • terrestrial

    used for animals, plants, or environments on land.

  • land-based

    common for activities, systems, or places that operate on land.

Grammar Patterns

aquatic plants

aquatic animals

aquatic life

aquatic exercise

be aquatic

Usage Note

Often used before a noun. It can describe animals and plants that live in water, but it also describes water-related places and activities such as an aquatic center or aquatic exercise.

Common Mistakes

We joined an aquatics class at the pool.
We joined an aquatic exercise class at the pool.
when this word describes an activity, it is usually an adjective followed by a noun.
Sea turtles are marine, not aquatic.
Sea turtles are marine and also aquatic animals.
marine usually points to the sea; aquatic is broader and means connected with water generally.

aquatic — noun

Word family

  • aquatically
    adverbC2
  • aqua
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For the main adjective sense, aquatic is the broadest choice when something lives in water, grows there, or is connected with water activity. Marine is narrower because it usually points to the sea, so a river insect can be aquatic but not marine. Water-dwelling is mainly for animals and plants, not for lessons, sports, or buildings. Water-based works better for activities, businesses, or systems than for living things. Amphibious is different again: it describes something able to live, move, or operate both in water and on land. Compare aquatic plants in a pond, marine fish in the ocean, and a water-based exercise class at the gym.

aquatic ↗marine ↗water-basedwater-dwellingamphibious

Common collocations

Nouns

  • aquatic plants
  • aquatic animals
  • aquatic life
  • aquatic insects
  • aquatic environment
  • aquatic center

Adverbs

  • fully aquatic
  • mainly aquatic

Phrases

  • be aquatic
  • aquatic exercise class
  • native aquatics
  • hardy aquatics

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Aquatic came into English from Latin aquaticus, which meant 'of the water'. That Latin word was built from aqua, meaning 'water'. The modern English word still keeps that basic idea of living in water or being closely linked with it.