semiaquatic

adjective

semi·​aquat·​ic ˌse-mē-ə-ˈkwä-tik How to pronounce semiaquatic (audio)
-ˈkwa-,
ˌse-ˌmī-,
-mi-
: growing equally well in or adjacent to water
also : frequenting but not living wholly in water

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The department’s recommendation to the county board that the lake be allowed to become a semiaquatic wetland has stirred anger among Springfield-area residents who have enjoyed it as a recreation hub. Antonio Olivo, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2023 In 1938, the nutria, a large, semiaquatic rodent from Argentina, was introduced onto fur farms in Louisiana. Anthony Ham, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2022 The muted-color photos effectively evoke the semiaquatic landscape and conjure a moist, hazy vibe. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 3 June 2022 But a team of researchers recently used high-tech cameras to look at one semiaquatic species, documenting just how exacting these six-legged hoppers are in a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in November. Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Dec. 2022 Among the wonders of the natural world that few people have ever noticed: a semiaquatic springtail in motion. Oliver Whang, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2022 The paddlelike tail, added this year by Dal Sasso and colleagues, creates a new image of a semiaquatic dinosaur that was more proficient at swimming than running. Riley Black, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2020 Intriguingly, the dinosaur likely lived along marine and freshwater habitats like other semiaquatic reptiles, but it’s not something that any other extinct or extant large aquatic vertebrates like ichthyosaurs or sea turtles did. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Dec. 2022 The Natovenator specimen is very similar to Halszkaraptor, another dinosaur discovered in Mongolia, which scientists believe was likely semiaquatic. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 4 Dec. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semiaquatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semiaquatic was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near semiaquatic

Cite this Entry

“Semiaquatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiaquatic. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

semiaquatic

adjective
semi·​aquat·​ic ˌsem-ē-ə-ˈkwät-ik How to pronounce semiaquatic (audio)
ˌsem-ˌī-,
-ˈkwat-
: growing well in or very near water
also : living near and often entering water but not living in it
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