amphibious

American  

[am-fib-ee-uhs] / æmˈfɪb i əs /

adjective

1. living or able to live both on land and in water; belonging to both land and water.

2. Also capable of operating on both land and water.

   amphibious vehicles.

3. of or relating to military operations by both land and naval forces against the same object, especially to a military attack by troops landed by naval ships.

4. trained or organized to fight, or fighting, on both land and sea.

   amphibious troops.

5. combining two qualities, kinds, traits, etc.; of or having a mixed or twofold nature.

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amphibious British  

/ æmˈfɪbɪəs /

adjective

1. able to live both on land and in the water, as frogs, toads, etc

2. designed for operation on or from both water and land

3. relating to military forces and equipment organized for operations launched from the sea against an enemy shore

4. having a dual or mixed nature

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Other Word Forms

• amphibiously adverb
• amphibiousness noun
• nonamphibious adjective
• nonamphibiously adverb
• nonamphibiousness noun

Etymology

Origin of amphibious

First recorded in 1635–45; from Latin amphibius, from Greek amphíbios “living a double life”; amphi-, bio-, -ous

Example Sentences

The Navy has 287 ships in its inventory, mostly destroyers, cruisers, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships and submarines.

From The Wall Street Journal

There are currently 11 US warships in the Caribbean: the world's largest aircraft carrier, an amphibious assault ship, two amphibious transport dock ships, two cruisers and five destroyers.

From Barron's

As part of the pressure campaign, the US has deployed 15,000 troops and a range of aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships to the Caribbean.

From BBC

If amphibious forces approached Taiwan’s east coast, they would confront steep cliffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

The US has deployed 15,000 troops and a range of aircraft carriers, guided-missile destroyers, and amphibious assault ships to the Caribbean.

From BBC

Related Words

• floating
• marine
• maritime