a-q-u-i-f-e-r
AQUIFER An underground layer of water-bearing rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater; Earth's hidden freshwater reservoirs. In word games, AQUIFER earns 19 base points.
19
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
Beneath our feet lies a hidden hydrological world—aquifers, the underground reservoirs that supply drinking water to over 2 billion people globally. These geological formations act as nature's water storage systems, holding groundwater in porous rock, sand, or gravel layers. Like underground rivers frozen in stone, aquifers can stretch for thousands of miles, crossing state and national boundaries, making them crucial shared resources.
Aquifers form over millennia as water percolates through soil and rock, accumulating in permeable layers bounded by impermeable rock. The Ogallala Aquifer, underlying eight U.S. states, irrigates one-fifth of American wheat, corn, and cattle production. The Great Artesian Basin in Australia, Earth's largest aquifer system, covers 22% of the continent. These massive water stores can be confined (pressurized between impermeable layers) or unconfined (with water table exposed to surface pressure).
Modern challenges threaten these vital resources. Over-extraction causes aquifer depletion—some regions pump water accumulated over 10,000 years within decades. Contamination from agricultural runoff, industrial waste, and saltwater intrusion poses additional risks. Climate change alters recharge patterns, while growing populations increase demand. Understanding and protecting aquifers has become essential for sustainable water management and future food security.
In Scrabble, AQUIFER showcases the power of the Q-U combination. Worth 10 points alone, Q becomes playable when paired with U, making words like AQUIFER valuable finds. The 7-letter structure offers bingo potential if you can add one tile to existing words. Strategic players save Q-U combinations for premium squares, potentially scoring 50+ points. The word's mix of common vowels and the high-value Q makes it both playable and rewarding.
AQUIFER combines Latin "aqua" (water) with "-fer" (bearing or carrying), literally meaning "water-bearer." Coined in 1897 by geologist O.E. Meinzer, the term replaced various regional names for underground water sources. The scientific precision of Latin terminology helped standardize hydrogeological vocabulary as groundwater science emerged. The word's construction follows the pattern of other geological terms like "lucifer" (light-bearer) and "conifer" (cone-bearer). This Latinate formation reflects the 19th-century scientific tradition of using classical roots to create precise technical vocabulary.
•The Q in AQUIFER is worth 10 points, but requires the U to be playable—making Q-U words precious finds
•The Ogallala Aquifer contains enough water to cover the entire United States with 1.5 feet of water
•Some aquifers contain "fossil water" trapped underground for over 10,000 years since the last ice age
"The well tapped into a pristine aquifer 300 feet below, providing crystal-clear water for generations."
"Protecting the aquifer from contamination became the community's top environmental priority."
Other valuable Q-words and 7-letter options:
Total base points: 19 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 4 (A, U, I, E) | Consonants: 3 (Q, F, R)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like AQUIFER