spa
spa Lexical Profile
spa Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A commercial establishment or resort offering health, beauty, and relaxation treatments such as massages, facials, and steam baths.
"She booked an afternoon at a local spa to unwind with a massage and a facial after a stressful week."
A small heated pool or large tub equipped with underwater jets that circulate warm water and air bubbles for hydrotherapy or relaxation.
"After skiing all morning, we soaked in the outdoor spa on the cabin deck."
A natural mineral spring or a town situated near one that is visited for the supposed curative properties of its waters.
"During the nineteenth century, wealthy travelers regularly visited the mountain spa to bathe in its thermal waters."
Word Nuance & Usage
A widespread folk etymology claims that "spa" is an acronym for the Latin phrase "salus per aquam" (health through water), though the word actually derives from the name of the Belgian town Spa.
• Rhymes for spa
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the town of Spa in eastern Belgium, whose curative mineral springs have been renowned since the 14th century; the place name itself comes from the Walloon word "espa," meaning fountain or spring.