hydrodynamic

American

[hahy-droh-dahy-nam-ik, -di-] / ˌhaɪ droʊ daɪˈnæm ɪk, -dɪ- /

adjective

pertaining to forces in or motions of liquids.
of or relating to hydrodynamics.

hydrodynamic British

/ -dɪ-, ˌhaɪdrəʊdaɪˈnæmɪk /

adjective

of or concerned with the mechanical properties of fluids
of or concerned with hydrodynamics

"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

hydrodynamically adverb

Etymology

Origin of hydrodynamic

First recorded in 1770–80; hydro- ¹ + dynamic

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.

The work draws on hydrodynamic models of Jupiter's growth combined with simulations that track how dust and young planets evolve.

From Science Daily • Nov. 13, 2025

In a statement Tuesday, harbor officials said the incident illuminated “a new vulnerability in floating dock design: a previously underrecognized hydrodynamic failure mechanism.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2025

In either case, the hydrodynamic body shape lets them both swim rapidly over long distances.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2024

When Navy scientists began working with their first dolphin, in 1959, they hoped simply to imitate it and learn how to design more hydrodynamic torpedoes.

From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2023

Every other mammal that went to sea—seals, sea cows, dolphins—had to evolve for aeons to develop specialised organs and a hydrodynamic body.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023