waterline

noun wa·ter·line \ ˈwȯ-tər-ˌlīn , ˈwä- \

|Updated on: 13 Aug 2018

Definition of waterline

: a line that marks the level of the surface of water on something: such as

a (1) : the point on the hull of a ship or boat to which the water rises

(2) : a line marked on the outside of a ship that corresponds with the water's surface when the ship is afloat on an even keel under specified conditions of loading

b : shoreline 1

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Examples of waterline in a Sentence

We repaired the hull below the waterline.

Recent Examples of waterline from the Web

Beside a spit of land jutting into a swampy enclosure, a female crocodile breaks the waterline, the bony ridges on her back jagged like an electrocardiogram.

— krista stevens, Longreads, "On Saving the Cuban Crocodile from American Invasion," 22 June 2018
Beside a spit of land jutting into a swampy enclosure, a female crocodile breaks the waterline, the bony ridges on her back jagged like an electrocardiogram.

— shanna baker, Smithsonian, "The Quest to Preserve the Last of Castro’s Crocodiles," 21 June 2018
Beno said that project will be more expensive, due to waterline replacement and additional sewer work.

— john benson, cleveland.com, "Lakewood moving forward with $2 million Lake Avenue road work this summer," 3 May 2018
This is the key issue, the one that has trapped Argentina below the waterline, and the one the country must start to address if its time in the international wilderness, at least trophy-wise, is to come to an end.

— rory smith, New York Times, "How Argentina Lost Its Way. (Spoiler: It’s Not Messi’s Fault.)," 22 June 2018
Before swiping the wand all the way through your lashes, start by wiggling the bristles into the base of your lashes and lightly stamping the mascara against your waterline.

— devon abelman, Allure, "The 11 Best Volumizing Mascaras that Are Basically Lash Extensions in a Tube," 20 June 2018
The city contributed about $966,641, making possible waterline, sidewalk, roadway and other infrastructure improvements.

— david ibata, ajc, "Roswell formally opens seniors housing," 22 May 2018
One of the poorest communities in the U.S., Flint has depended on the state program since lead was discovered in its waterlines.

— NBC News, "As state-run water program ends, Flint churches look to fill void," 11 Apr. 2018
Heather Lissner, a spokeswoman for the airport, said the waterline broke in Terminal 2 and was in the process of being repaired.

— uriel j. garcia, azcentral, "Repairs underway after waterline break at Phoenix Sky Harbor's Terminal 2," 8 May 2018

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

First Known Use of waterline

circa 1625

in the meaning defined at sense a(1)

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WATERLINE Defined for English Language Learners

waterline

noun

Definition of waterline for English Language Learners

the waterline : the level that water reaches on the side of a ship
: a horizontal mark on a wall or other surface that was made by water during a flood and that shows how high the water was