Hydroplane - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT hydroplane /ˌhaɪdrəˈpleɪn/ /ˈhaɪdrəpleɪn/ IPA guide

Other forms: hydroplanes; hydroplaning

A hydroplane is an aircraft that's designed to land on water, or a boat that skims lightly across the water's surface. When you hydroplane, it's more likely to be in a car that's slipping on a wet road.

The noun hydroplane always refers to a vehicle, either a speedboat that seems to hover over the surface of water as it travels, or a plane that can take off and land on an ocean or lake. Used as a verb, hydroplane describes what these vehicles do — or what a fast-moving car does on a very wet surface, losing traction as it begins to float and slide. The prefix hydro- means "water" in Greek.

Definitions of hydroplane

noun an airplane that can land on or take off from water “the designer of marine aircraft demonstrated his newest hydroplane” synonyms: seaplane see moresee less types: floatplane, pontoon plane a seaplane equipped with pontoons for landing or taking off from water flying boat a large seaplane that floats with its fuselage in the water rather than on pontoons type of: aeroplane, airplane, plane an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
noun a speedboat that is equipped with winglike structures that lift it so that it skims the water at high speeds “the museum houses a replica of the jet hydroplane that broke the record” synonyms: hydrofoil see moresee less type of: speedboat a fast motorboat
verb glide on the water in a hydroplane synonyms: seaplane see moresee less type of: aviate, fly, pilot operate an airplane

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