Definition of "scuba" [scuba]

• A portable apparatus containing compressed air and used for breathing under water. (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.

• "While the term scuba stands for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, the scuba diving kit consists of more than an air tank, facemask and a mouthpiece on a hose."
• "A scientist and doctor who invented a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus used by the military in World War II and later coined the term "scuba," an acronym by which such systems are widely known."
• "Getting certified in scuba can be pricey, averaging ~$300 for training and certification, figure another ~$100 for theopen water dive course, pricey equipment if you decide to invest in owning, and also pricey if you rent."