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
Examples of museum in a Sentence
a museum of natural history
a trip to the Museum of Natural History
Recent Examples on the Web
Here’s the latest in late-night hours from local museums.
—
Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
My articles are aimed at Culture Vultures who love to seek out the most interesting exhibitions, films, theatre, museums or other cultural events.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
One project is a collaboration that indexes theme parks and museums globally and estimates their annual attendance.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025
To mark the model’s 60th anniversary, which was celebrated last year, the museum has published a new book offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the Panorama was made.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
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Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
My articles are aimed at Culture Vultures who love to seek out the most interesting exhibitions, films, theatre, museums or other cultural events.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
One project is a collaboration that indexes theme parks and museums globally and estimates their annual attendance.
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2025
To mark the model’s 60th anniversary, which was celebrated last year, the museum has published a new book offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the Panorama was made.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for museum
Cite this Entry
“Museum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/museum. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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.
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