hydroplane

/ˌhaɪdrəˈpleɪn/

/ˈhaɪdrəpleɪn/

Other forms: hydroplanes; hydroplaning

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.

Definitions of hydroplane

1. noun

   an airplane that can land on or take off from water
   “the designer of marine aircraft demonstrated his newest hydroplane”

   synonyms: seaplane

   types:

   floatplane, pontoon plane

   a seaplane equipped with pontoons for landing or taking off from water

   flying boat

   a large seaplane that floats with its fuselage in the water rather than on pontoons

   type of:

   aeroplane, airplane, plane

   an aircraft that has a fixed wing and is powered by propellers or jets
2. noun

   a speedboat that is equipped with winglike structures that lift it so that it skims the water at high speeds
   “the museum houses a replica of the jet hydroplane that broke the record”

   synonyms: hydrofoil

   type of:

   speedboat

   a fast motorboat
3. verb

   glide on the water in a hydroplane
   synonyms: seaplane

   type of:

   aviate, fly, pilot

   operate an airplane