4:1 Aqueduct

When and Where I Found It:  I found this word in the newspaper a few days ago.  The article was discussing the use of the aqueduct in the city of Rochester as a location for a dinner as part of the 2010 World Canals Conference.  

What It Means:  According to dictionary.com, an aqueduct is "an artificial channel for conducting water from a distance, usually by means of gravity."
Aqueduct (n.) In dictionary.com Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/aqueduct

Level of Familiarity: Prior to looking up the definition of this word, I had often seen the word.  I'm sure I have come across this word in social studies when discussing waterways.  Also, I have seen this word or heard others use this word in reference to Rochester's aqueduct.  In spite of all of this exposure, when I read this word a few days ago, I realized that I wasn't quite sure what an aqueduct actually does.  I knew that water passed through it, but I did not know if there was an actual purpose for this structure. 

Do I Want to Know This Word Well and Why?  Yes, I want to know this word well because I have already been exposed to the word so often, that I feel as though it would be helpful to have a deeper understanding of it.  Additionally, I believe that Rochester's aqueduct is a visually-appealing structure and would like to see it preserved, so it would be useful to know what it's initial function was.  

Do I Think Others Should Know This Word Well...If So, Who and Why?  I think others should know this word well, but generally only those who live near an aqueduct or are involved in creating or maintaining them are those who should know this word extremely well.  All others should also know what this word means or at least have a basic understanding of what an aqueduct is, but it is less imperative that they know this word well.