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submersible

/səbˈmʌrsəbəl/
IPA guide

Other forms: submersibles

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."

Definitions of submersible
  1. adjective
    capable of being immersed in water or functioning while submerged
    “a submersible pump”
    synonyms: submergible
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    nonsubmersible
    not submersible or submergible
  2. noun
    an apparatus intended for use under water
    see moresee less
    types:
    bathyscape, bathyscaph, bathyscaphe
    navigable deep diving vessel for underwater exploration
    bathysphere
    spherical deep diving apparatus (lowered by a cable) for underwater exploration
    diving bell
    diving apparatus for underwater work; has an open bottom and is supplied with compressed air
    minisub, minisubmarine
    submersible vessel for one or two persons; for naval operations or underwater exploration
    type of:
    apparatus, setup
    equipment designed to serve a specific function
  3. noun
    a warship designed to operate under water
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    surface ship
    a warship that operates on the surface of the water
    types:
    U-boat, pigboat, sub, submarine
    a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes
    attack submarine
    a military submarine designed and armed to attack enemy shipping
    auxiliary research submarine
    a submarine for research purposes
    fleet ballistic missile submarine
    a submarine carrying ballistic missiles
    nautilus, nuclear submarine, nuclear-powered submarine
    a submarine that is propelled by nuclear power
    type of:
    combat ship, war vessel, warship
    a government ship that is available for waging war
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