Definition

A type of airplane that can take off from and land on water, usually equipped with floats instead of wheels.

Example

The seaplane landed smoothly on the lake, ready to pick up passengers.

Conversation

Have you ever been on a seaplane?

No, I haven't, but it sounds like an amazing experience.

I went on one last summer, and it was so much fun!

That’s awesome! I’d love to try a seaplane ride someday.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Seaplane → The word is formed from "sea" (from Old English "sǣ", meaning the large body of saltwater) and "plane" (from Latin "planus", meaning flat or level). A seaplane is an aircraft designed to take off and land on water, thus combining the elements of sea and flatness for its landing surface.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'sea' as a large body of water and 'plane' as something flat — a seaplane is an aircraft that operates on the flat surface of the sea.

Visually Confused Words