hydroplane

noun

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hy·dro·plane | \ ˈhī-drə-ˌplān

Definition of hydroplane

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a powerboat designed for racing that skims the surface of the water

2 : seaplane

hydroplane

verb

hydroplaned; hydroplaning; hydroplanes

Definition of hydroplane (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

: to skim on water especially, of a vehicle : to skid on a wet surface (such as pavement) because a film of water on the surface causes the tires to lose contact with it

Examples of hydroplane in a Sentence

Verb The car started hydroplaning and skidded off the road.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Extreme hydroplane racing features the H1 Unlimited, Grand National, National Modified, and Grand Prix racing series. — Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 19 May 2021 However, as the hydroplane began to ascend, pilot Henry Arnold nosed it into the wind and caught a wing tip on the surface, causing the aircraft to crash. — David Kindy, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2021 The estate is beside a private lake and has been used by the owners to test hydroplanes during the past 30 years, according to the listing. — Emma Austin, The Courier-Journal, 11 Feb. 2020 Driving through water can cause you to hydroplane, which is when water builds between tires and the roadway. — Ethan May, Indianapolis Star, 10 Jan. 2020 The snow was consistently deep enough to cause the 20-inch Goodyear Ultra Grip 245/45R-20 winter tires to hydroplane—snowboard?—atop the powder, yet the Taycan still felt planted. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 6 Jan. 2020 Schedule: Friday — unlimited hydroplanes will practice from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30. — Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2019 Rain on the roads can increase the chance to hydroplane, when your tires lose contact with the road leading to loss of control of the car. — Emily Bamforth, cleveland, 11 Nov. 2019 Ed Karelsen, who built championship race boats in all classes and in the unlimited hydroplane class in particular, died Saturday in Edmonds, H1 Unlimited said. — Seattle Times Staff, The Seattle Times, 1 Jan. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The slick tires on the cars will hydroplane off of any water accumulating on the asphalt surface. — Jim Clash, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2021 The preliminary report includes more than 200 homes damaged, four injuries from vehicles hydroplaning in Grenada County and a levee breach in Leake County. — Alissa Zhu, USA TODAY, 16 Feb. 2020 An unidentified man died and two others were injured Thursday when a car hydroplaned in Knoxville, Tennessee, and hit a truck, police said in a news release. — Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2020 Matt Madden of Lilburn rushed to the scene of the accident, which occurred when an SUV hydroplaned, hit a curb and power pole before slamming into a brick wall, according to CNN. — Ally Mauch, PEOPLE.com, 18 Apr. 2020 An unidentified man died and two others were injured Thursday when a car hydroplaned in Knoxville, Tennessee, and hit a truck, police said in a news release. — Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2020 Elsewhere in Mississippi, 25 homes had been damaged and four people were hurt in wrecks caused by vehicles hydroplaning on wet roads. — Jay Reeves, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Feb. 2020 In North Carolina's Gaston County, Terry Roger Fisher was killed after his pickup truck hydroplaned in heavy rain, plunged down a 25-foot embankment and overturned in a creek, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said, according to news outlets. — Greg Norman | Fox News, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2020 In North Carolina’s Gaston County, a driver was killed after his pickup truck hydroplaned in heavy rain, plunged down a 25-foot embankment and overturned in a creek, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said, according to news outlets. — NBC News, 6 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hydroplane.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.