semisubmersible

American

[sem-ee-suhb-mur-suh-buhl, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm i səbˈmɜr sə bəl, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

noun

Also called semisubmersible rig. a self-propelled barge that is mounted on partially submerged legs supported by underwater pontoons, rides at anchor, and serves as a work base and living quarters in deep offshore drilling operations.

adjective

of, for, or pertaining to a semisubmersible.

Etymology

Origin of semisubmersible

First recorded in 1960–65; semi- + submersible

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.

In the fullness of time I expect a move towards something more like a semisubmersible platform, because that would give much more inherent stability and habitability in more challenging weather.

From Slate • Sep. 29, 2012

Brown & Root, a U.S. construction firm, is helping to build two semisubmersible drilling platforms for British Petroleum in Scotland.

From Time Magazine Archive

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