hydroplane

American  

[hahy-druh-pleyn] / ˈhaɪ drəˌpleɪn /

noun

hydroplanes plural

1. a seaplane.

2. an attachment to an airplane enabling it to glide on the water.

3. a light, high-powered boat, especially one with hydrofoils or a stepped bottom, designed to plane along the surface of the water at very high speeds.

4. a horizontal rudder for submerging or elevating a submarine.

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verb (used without object)

hydroplanes, present (3rd person singular) hydroplaned, past participle, past hydroplaning present participle

1. to skim over water in the manner of a hydroplane.

2. to travel in a hydroplane.

3. Also (of a vehicular tire or vehicle) to ride on a film of water on a wet surface with a resulting decrease in braking and steering effectiveness.

hydroplane British  

/ ˈhaɪdrəʊˌpleɪn /

noun

1. a motorboat equipped with hydrofoils or with a shaped bottom that raises its hull out of the water at high speeds

2. an attachment to an aircraft to enable it to glide along the surface of water

3. another name (esp US) for a seaplane

4. a horizontal vane on the hull of a submarine for controlling its vertical motion

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verb

1. (intr) (of a boat) to rise out of the water in the manner of a hydroplane

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hydroplanes
  plural

Participles

• hydroplaning
  present
• hydroplaned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• hydroplane
  simple
• hydroplanes
  simple
• have hydroplaned
  perfect
• has hydroplaned
  perfect
• are hydroplaning
  progressive
• am hydroplaning
  progressive
• is hydroplaning
  progressive
• have been hydroplaning
  perfect progressive
• has been hydroplaning
  perfect progressive

Past

• hydroplaned
  simple
• had hydroplaned
  perfect
• was hydroplaning
  progressive
• were hydroplaning
  progressive
• had been hydroplaning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will hydroplane
  simple
• will have hydroplaned
  perfect
• will be hydroplaning
  progressive
• will have been hydroplaning
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of hydroplane

First recorded in 1900–05; hydro- ¹ + plane ¹

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

David Williams, the executive director of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent, compared Schumacher’s rise in the sport to somebody who started playing peewee football in Seattle and advanced to play for the Seahawks.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 31, 2023

“There’s so much involved around Seafair,” said David Williams, the executive director of the Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum in Kent.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2023

Lucero, who was inducted into the Hydroplane Hall of Fame in 1980, is credited with 69 wins.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 30, 2023

Self-deprecating jokes aside, the Strong Racing team has enjoyed unprecedented success midway through its second season on the H1 Unlimited Hydroplane Racing circuit.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 5, 2022

The Hydroplane Operator keeps up a monotonous sing-song to the effect that "Fast running propellers are either receding or approaching."

From The Diary of a U-boat Commander With an Introduction and Explanatory Notes by Etienne by King-Hall, Stephen, Sir