Origin: 1300-1400 French fontaine, from Latin fons place where water comes out of the ground
1 a structure from which water is pushed up into the air, used as a decoration2 (also water fountain) a piece of equipment in a public place that produces a stream of water for you to drink fromSYN drinking fountain3a flow of liquid, or of something bright and colorful, that goes straight up into the air: fountain of A fountain of lava burst from the volcano.4fountain of something written a source or supply of something: People have accused the Internet of being a fountain of misinformation. [Origin: 1300–1400 French fontaine, from Latin fons place where water comes out of the ground] → see alsosoda fountain