museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm 

: an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value

American Museum of Natural History

also : a place where objects are exhibited

an art museum

Synonyms

• gallery
• salon

Examples of museum in a Sentence

a museum of natural history

a trip to the Museum of Natural History

Recent Examples on the Web

Gucci Mane has spoken at middle school career days, Killer Mike was on former mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ transition team, and T.I. owns and operates a museum dedicated to trap music and has taught a course on the genre at Clark Atlanta University. —Maurice Garland, SPIN, 19 Dec. 2024

This grant, combined with other campaign dollars, will help to bring new planetarium shows to the Loch Haven Park museum along with big-screen movies and laser light shows. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024

The museum said the fossils are scheduled to be carbon-dated and comprehensively analyzed and will be on public display in 2025. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024

The Centennial Ferris Wheel will open March 15 in the museum's Riley Children's Health Sports Legends Experience, offering visitors views of the museum's grounds, downtown Indy and the surrounding neighborhoods. —Holly V. Hays, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin Museum place for learned occupation, from Greek Mouseion, from neuter of Mouseios of the Muses, from Mousa

First Known Use

circa 1660, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing museum

• historical museum
• museum piece
• wax museum

Kids Definition

museum

noun

mu·​se·​um myu̇-ˈzē-əm 

: a building in which interesting and valuable things (as works of art or historical or scientific objects) are collected and shown to the public

Etymology

from Latin Museum "a place devoted to the Muses, a place for the study of special arts and sciences," from Greek Mouseion (same meaning), from Mouseios "of the Muses," from Mousa "Muse, goddess of an art or science" — related to music

Word Origin

The ancient Greeks worshipped nine sister goddesses, each of whom was called a Mousa. In English we now refer to them as the Muses. The Greeks believed that each Muse was the goddess of a particular art or science. A place that was dedicated to these goddesses—and to the arts and sciences for which they stood—was called a Mouseion. The Greek Mouseion became Museum in Latin, from which it was borrowed into English about 300 years ago.