WordGarden.iofountain
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈaʊntɪn/
US
- /ˈfaʊntən/
Meanings
Noun
a decorative structure that sends water into the air
a fixture that provides drinking water
a jet or spray of liquid or particles
More meaningsFewer meanings
a source from which something comes abundantly
Beyond the definition
A fountain is often a place where water rises or sprays in a pool, garden, park, or public square. It may be made to look beautiful, but the word is not only about decoration. It can also mean a source that seems to give a lot of something. A fountain of knowledge is a person who seems full of facts and ideas, and the Fountain of Youth is the famous mythical spring that was said to make people young again.
The idea behind the word is flow. Water flows from it, and in stories or everyday speech, other things can seem to flow from it too, such as ideas, energy, or good fortune. That is why the word often suggests beauty, movement, and plenty all at once.
The word "fountain" often brings to mind a structure where water flows, rises, or sprays into the air. Many fountains are built for beauty, and you can see them in parks, gardens, courtyards, and city squares. Some are simple stone basins with a small stream of water, while others are large public displays with lights, statues, and carefully shaped jets. In this sense, a fountain is both a water feature and a part of the space around it.
But the word also has a wider meaning. It can describe any rich or steady source of something, especially in a figurative way. If someone is called a fountain of knowledge, they seem able to provide facts, answers, or ideas again and again. In the same way, people may speak of a fountain of hope, joy, or creativity when something seems to produce these things without running dry.
The word has also been linked for a long time with life, renewal, and abundance. The well-known story of the "Fountain of Youth" describes a magical spring that could restore youth. In literature, a fountain may stand for the source of tears, love, wisdom, or life itself. This use builds on the same central image: something keeps flowing out from a single source.
So whether it means a real water feature, a natural spring, or a figurative source of ideas or feeling, "fountain" usually suggests flow, freshness, and fullness. It is a word for something that gives out more than just a little and seems alive with motion.
Examples
- 1
Park
We sat by the fountain in the park and ate our lunch.
- 2
Sightseeing
Tourists were taking photos in front of the fountain in the square.
- 3
Drinking water
There's a drinking fountain just outside the gym.
- Phrasedrinking fountain
a place where you can drink water in a public building
- 4
Hotel decor
The hotel lobby has a marble fountain in the middle.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Storytelling
My grandfather is a fountain of stories about the old neighborhood.
- Patterna fountain of + something
a large, steady source of it
- 6
Youth idiom
She spends a fortune on skin care, still hoping to find the fountain of youth.
- Phrasethe fountain of youth
something that keeps you looking or feeling young
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- fountainnoun
Forms
- fountainspluralnoun