Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Fountain
1.
A spring of water issuing from the earth.
2.
An artificially produced jet or stream of water; also, the structure or works in which such a jet or stream rises or flows; a basin built and constantly supplied with pure water for drinking and other useful purposes, or for ornament.
3.
A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be conducted or drawn off as needed for use;
as, the ink
fountain
in a printing press, etc.4.
The source from which anything proceeds, or from which anything is supplied continuously; origin; source.
Judea, the
fountain
of the gospel. Fuller.
Author of all being,
Fountain
of light, thyself invisible. Milton.
Air fountain
. See under
– Air
. Fountain heead
, primary source; original; first principle.
Young.
– Fountain inkstand
, an inkstand having a continual supply of ink, as from elevated reservoir.
– Fountain lamp
, a lamp fed with oil from an elevated reservoir.
– Fountain pen
, a pen with a reservoir in the handle which furnishes a supply of ink.
– Fountain pump
. (a)
A structure for a fountain, having the form of a pump.
(b)
A portable garden pump which throws a jet, for watering plants, etc.
– Fountain shell
(Zool.)
, the large West Indian conch shell (
– Strombus gigas
). Fountain of youth
, a mythical fountain whose waters were fabled to have the property of renewing youth.