aqueduct
noun
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Based partly on the Latin ducere, meaning "lead" or "conduct," the word aqueduct named an ancient civil-engineering marvel. Ancient Rome's aqueduct system, an extraordinary feat of engineering, brought water to the city from as far as 57 miles (92 kilometers) away. Only a portion of the Roman aqueducts utilized the familiar stone arch; most were underground conduits made of stone or terra-cotta pipe. Modern aqueduct systems now often use reinforced concrete for large water mains, and ductile iron, a stronger and more elastic type of cast iron, for smaller underground pipes.
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Examples of aqueduct in a Sentence
Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 30 Jan. 2025
Most of California’s urban population and farms receive water through the state and federal water projects, which transport supplies from Sierra Nevada snowmelt into the Delta and out through aqueducts, reservoirs and pipelines.
—Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 25 Jan. 2025
The Via del Tritone location of the Italian department store Rinascente has an ancient aqueduct in the basement and a rooftop restaurant perfect for aperitivo with an Aperol spritz and a front-row seat for sunset.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2025
The ash from the fires can also enter surface water supplies like reservoirs and aqueducts.
—Umair Irfan, Vox, 15 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Aqueduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aqueduct. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aqueduct
noun
from Latin aquaeductus "aqueduct," from aquae, form of aqua "water," and ductus "act of conducting or leading" — related to duct
Medical Definition
aqueduct
noun
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