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Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

US media reports that amphibious ships carrying up to 5,000 Marines and sailors are now being sent to the Gulf, adding to that speculation.

From BBC

The Wall Street Journal and New York Times said Friday the Pentagon had dispatched the Japan-based amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli to the region along with its complement of some 2,500 Marines.

From Barron's

RFA Lyme Bay is a Bay Class landing ship - not a warship - and its primary function is to deliver troops, vehicles, stores and ammunition in the case of amphibious assaults.

From BBC

Practically, when it comes to invasion, the PLA is "still hampered by the limited number of amphibious combined arms brigades" it currently has, said NTU's Char.

From Barron's

He earned a few hundred dollars more by providing information about Taiwan’s weapons and amphibious vehicles, prosecutors said.

From The Wall Street Journal