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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

scuba

SKOO-buh

Scuba (noun) means diving equipment consisting of a compressed-air tank and regulator, allowing a diver to breathe underwater independently. Example: “They rented scuba gear for the reef dive.”

noun
1
Diving equipment consisting of a compressed-air tank and regulator, allowing a diver to breathe underwater independently.
"They rented scuba gear for the reef dive."
"She got her scuba certification last summer."
verb
1
To dive using scuba equipment.
"We scubaed along the coral reef for an hour."

How to use scuba

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUnderwater breathing gear, or the act of diving with it.

Common pairings
scuba diving scuba gear go scuba diving

Word forms

scubaed past tense, scubas plural, scubas singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They rented _____ gear for the reef dive.

Etymology

Originally an acronym for "self-contained underwater breathing apparatus," now used as an ordinary word without anyone spelling it out.

aqualung Aqua-Lung

Related words

Rhymes for scuba

See all rhymes for scuba →

Frequently asked questions

What does “scuba” mean?

The word “scuba” means diving equipment consisting of a compressed-air tank and regulator, allowing a diver to breathe underwater independently. In plain terms, underwater breathing gear, or the act of diving with it.

How do you pronounce “scuba”?

“Scuba” is pronounced SKOO-buh (/ˈskuːbə/ in IPA).

How do you use “scuba” in a sentence?

Here is “scuba” used in a sentence: “They rented scuba gear for the reef dive.”

What part of speech is “scuba”?

Depending on how it is used, “scuba” can be a noun and a verb.

Is “scuba” a common word?

“Scuba” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “scuba” have?

“Scuba” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: diving equipment consisting of a compressed-air tank and regulator, allowing a diver to breathe underwater independently.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial