Word
amphibious
Phoneticsam·phibi·ous
US/æmˈfɪbiəs/
UK/æmfˈɪbɪəs/
Definition
adj. able to live or work both on land and in water. You use this to describe animals like frogs or vehicles like boats that can drive on the road.
adj. relating to, living in, or suited for both land and water. Often describes military operations launched from the sea against a shore or vehicles capable of traversing both terrains.
Examples
“Frogs are amphibious creatures that live near ponds.”
“The military used amphibious vehicles to transport troops from the ships directly onto the sandy beach.”
“Biologists are studying how certain amphibious species adapt their respiratory systems to survive prolonged periods of drought when their aquatic habitats disappear.”
Examples
simple
“Frogs are amphibious creatures that live near ponds.”
contextual
“The military used amphibious vehicles to transport troops from the ships directly onto the sandy beach.”
complex
“Biologists are studying how certain amphibious species adapt their respiratory systems to survive prolonged periods of drought when their aquatic habitats disappear.”
Usage
Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun; can also follow linking verbs like 'be' or 'remain'.
Real-World Examples
“On August 22, British and German troops crossed the bay between Staten Island and Long Island to begin a series of amphibious landings on the latter’s western shore.” “Now scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore have built an amphibious version by outfitting the cockroaches with a tiny diving suit, according to a paper published in Nature Communications.” “Several beaches, such as Barceloneta are also equipped with ramps, walkways, and amphibious chairs.” Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀμφίβιος (amphíbios), from ἀμφί (amphí) + βίος (bíos, “life”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/amphibious