Definition of "museum" []

• A building, place, or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, or artistic value. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "The term museum was coined because the structure was dedicated to the seven muses, but it was really a research institute, the first state-run research institute in the world."
• "The term "museum quality" was bandied about along with other dubious labels."
• "In New York City, the Rubin museum is showing a collection of work from emerging Tibetan artists."