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fountain definition

foun·tain (fo̵unt′'n)

noun

  1. a natural spring of water
  2. the source or beginning of a stream
  3. a source or origin of anything a fountain of knowledge
    1. an artificial spring, jet, or flow of water
    2. the basin, pipes, etc. where this flows
    3. drinking fountain
  5. a container or reservoir, as for ink or oil

Etymology: ME < OFr fontaine < LL fontana < fem. of L fontanus < fons (gen. fontis), spring, prob. < IE base *dhen-, to run, flow > Sans dhanáyati, (he) runs

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fountain Synonyms

fountain

n.

  1. A source

    origin, well, spring, font; see origin 2.

  2. A jet of water

    spray, jet, stream, spring, gush, bubbler, drinking fountain, water fountain, water cooler, basin, spout, geyser, pump, spurt, play.

  3. A soda-water dispensary

    soda fountain, bar, soda bar, ice-cream parlor, drugstore fountain.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

fountain Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • gush: You will become a gushing fountain of divine blessing.

Adjective modifier

  • ornamental: A large ornamental fountain has been placed here, the gift of Messrs. Buchanan Brothers.

Modifies a noun

  • pen: The museum has many examples of fountain pens from the early Waterman's to the present day.

Noun used with modifier

  • fondue: Chocolate Falls UK Based in East Lothian Area Served Scotland Our chocolate fondue fountain will always provide the wow factor at any event.
fountain usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

fountain quotes

   In the deserts of the heart Let the healing fountain start, In the prison of his days Teach the free man how to praise.

-Auden,W(ystan) H(ugh)

Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

-Bible (Old Testament)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because theyare few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low: Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and mournersgo about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

-Bible (Old Testament)

fountain quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"fountain." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/fountain>

APA Style

fountain. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/fountain

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