submersible

American  

[suhb-mur-suh-buhl] / səbˈmɜr sə bəl /

adjective

1. capable of being submersed.

2. capable of functioning while submersed.

   a submersible pump.

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noun

1. a ship capable of submerging and operating under water; submarine.

2. a device designed for underwater work or exploration, as a bathyscaphe or diving bell.

submersible British  

/ səbˈmɜːdʒɪbəl, səbˈmɜːsəbəl /

adjective

1. able to be submerged

2. capable of operating under water, etc

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noun

1. a vessel designed to operate under water for short periods

2. a submarine taking one or more men that is designed and equipped to carry out work in deep water below the levels at which divers can work

Other Word Forms

• nonsubmersible
  adjective
• submersibility
  noun
• unsubmersible
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of submersible

First recorded in 1865–70; submerse + -ible

Explanation

Use the word submersible to describe something that can be used under water, like your fancy new submersible video camera. If you can use your watch while you're scuba diving, it's submersible, and so is all of your diving gear. Anything that functions in the water can be described this way, including a submarine, which is sometimes actually called a submersible, as are other machines designed to work under water. The word comes from the Latin submergere, "to plunge under or sink," from the root words sub, "under," and mergere, "to plunge or immerse."

Example Sentences

Submersible operator OceanGate said its "entire focus" is on the crew's return.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2023

He posted information on Instagram about a home teeth whitening system, the Submersible Bronzo Blu Abisso 42mm watch from Panerai, Smrtft adjustable dumbbells and a custom-built Jeep Rubicon.

From New York Times • Nov. 13, 2021

Submersible pilots from the University of Ghent in Belgium find invading crustaceans at Antarctica's Palmer Deep in 2010.

From Nature • Dec. 12, 2012

Not only is Horn wearing a specially designed model, the Luminor 1950 Submersible Depth Gauge, on his journey, he's also employing the brand's expertise to outfit his ship with a hygrometer, thermometer and barometer.

From Time Magazine Archive

"The New Submersible Merchantman," announced one of the more sedate journals.

From The Men Who Wrought by Cullum, Ridgwell