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Elements of the Universe: aqua, hydr (water), mar (sea)

Learn this list of words derived from aqua and hydr meaning "water" and mar meaning "sea."
15 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

  1. aqua
    a shade of blue tinged with green
    Sky blue, lake blue, sailor blue, aqua blue—you name a blue. The Secret Life of Bees
  2. aquamarine
    having a blue-green color
    The water had a sparkling clarity, an aquamarine hue suggesting the Caribbean more than a mountain stream. Washington Post (Jan 8, 2015)
  3. aquatic
    operating or living or growing in water
    The enormous aquarium reaches all the way to the ceiling, the collections of rocks and coral that once were a part of the aquatic ecosystem still intact. Dry
  4. aquarium
    a place where aquatic animals and plants are kept and publicly exhibited
    “We’re going to swim, paddle canoes, and go to the aquarium to see all the beautifully colored fish. And then we’ll have a picnic lunch.” Betty Before X
  5. aquaculture
    raising fish or shellfish or growing water plants for food
    Hawaii was also unique within Polynesia in using mass labor for aquaculture, by constructing large fishponds in which milkfish and mullet were grown. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
  6. aquifer
    underground layer of rock or sand that yields groundwater
    “Where does all the water come from? The Court is on a hill, so where’s the aquifer or aqueduct to bring the water up?” Six of Crows
  7. aqueduct
    a conduit that carries water over a valley
    Long aqueducts conveyed water from the distant mountains across the lake and into the city. 1491
  8. carbohydrate
    an essential component of living cells and source of energy
    Thanks to chlorophyll, plants are able to transform sunlight, water, and minerals into carbohydrates. The Omnivore's Dilemma
  9. hydrate
    add water or moisture to
    That means I need more surface area for farming, and more water to hydrate the soil. The Martian
  10. dehydrated
    suffering from excessive loss of water from the body
    Already the heat blazed down on us with a vengeance, and we were so dehydrated our tongues felt like thick, dry parchments in our mouths. Summer of the Mariposas
  11. hydraulic
    moved or operated or effected by liquid
    She led him down into the hold of the clipper, to where the hydraulic systems of the ship lay exposed. Ship Breaker
    hydor + aulos ("musical instrument, pipe") + ic (suffix forming adjectives)
    Add an "s" to the end of the adjective, and this word becomes a noun that refers to the "study of the mechanics of fluids."
  12. hydroponic
    of or relating to growing plants in water without soil
    So far, frosted food was brought from Earth in flying icicles; a few community gardens were greening up in hydroponic plants. The Martian Chronicles
  13. hydrogen
    a colorless, odorless gas; the lightest chemical element
    To a chemist, water is two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. New York Times
    hydor + gen (suffix meaning "thing that produces or causes")
  14. maritime
    relating to ships or navigation
    He explained that it was maritime law to help a ship in distress. The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle
  15. marine
    of or relating to the sea
    The Florida Keys are a national marine sanctuary, which means that the islands are supposedly protected by special laws against pollution, poaching, and other man-made damage. Flush
Created on Wed Feb 11 13:10:39 EST 2026 (updated Fri Mar 20 16:10:57 EDT 2026)

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