aqueduct

noun

aq·​ue·​duct ˈa-kwə-ˌdəkt 

1

a

: a conduit for water

especially : one for carrying a large quantity of flowing water

b

: a structure for conveying a canal over a river or hollow

2

: a canal or passage in a part or organ

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• canal
• channel
• conduit
• course
• flume
• racecourse
• raceway
• watercourse
• waterway

Examples of aqueduct in a Sentence

marveled at the ancient Roman aqueducts that still carry water to distant villages

Recent Examples on the Web

From there, water is pumped into a State Water Project aqueduct and moved south, mostly to Southern California. —George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025

There was just enough water to float us through the dank tunnel under the ancient stone aqueduct that carries the canal over the mouth of the run, and out in the river there wasn’t much more. —Arthur Grahame, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2025

Then Los Angeles built an aqueduct, diverting water from the Owens River to feed the city’s growth. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025

Firefighters held the fire’s progress at a local aqueduct. —Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin aquaeductus, from aquae (genitive of aqua) + ductus act of leading — more at duct

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for aqueduct

• deconstruct
• reconstruct
• abduct
• conduct
• construct
• deduct
• destruct
• induct
• instruct
• obstruct
• bucked
• chucked

Kids Definition

aqueduct

noun

aq·​ue·​duct ˈak-wə-ˌdəkt 

1

: an artificial channel for water

especially : one for carrying a large quantity of flowing water

2

: a structure that carries the water of a canal across a river or hollow

Etymology

from Latin aquaeductus "aqueduct," from aquae, form of aqua "water," and ductus "act of conducting or leading" — related to duct

Medical Definition

aqueduct

noun

aq·​ue·​duct ˈak-wə-ˌdəkt 

: a canal or passage in a part or organ