1. A building, place, or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation, study, exhibition, and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical, or artistic value.
2. Etymology: in the early 17th century, "the university building in Alexandria by Ptolemy Soter"; from Latin museum, "library, study"; from Greek mouseion, "place of study, library, museum"; originally, "a seat or shrine of the Muses"; from Mousa "Muse"; protectors of the arts, from Latin Musa, from Greek Mousa; literally, "muse, music, song".