Word
waterline
Phoneticswa·ter·line
UK/wˈɔːtəlˌaɪn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the line where the water meets the side of a ship or boat when it floats. You can often see it as a paint mark that shows how low the ship sits in the water.
n. the line of contact between a floating vessel's hull and the water surface; also the painted mark indicating that level under specified loading conditions.
Examples
“The waterline sits high when the boat is full.”
“After loading the cargo, the crew checked the waterline to make sure the ship was not too low in the water.”
“Algae stained the hull just above the waterline, recording months of slow passages through warm coastal waters.”
Examples
simple
“The waterline sits high when the boat is full.”
contextual
“After loading the cargo, the crew checked the waterline to make sure the ship was not too low in the water.”
complex
“Algae stained the hull just above the waterline, recording months of slow passages through warm coastal waters.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “waterline” in context.
Verb
01. clean waterline
“We hired divers to clean the waterline and check the hull.”
verb + noun
02. mark waterline
“The builder used chalk to mark the waterline before painting.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. high waterline
“The empty ferry rode high, with a high waterline clearly visible.”
adj + noun
04. low waterline
“The heavily loaded cargo ship showed a dangerously low waterline.”
adj + noun
05. painted waterline
“The sailor scrubbed the painted waterline to remove green algae.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. damage above waterline
“The storm caused only minor damage above the waterline.”
noun + prep + noun
07. hole below waterline
“The collision left a hole below the waterline and the ship listed.”
noun + prep + noun
08. a hole below the waterline
“The crew found a hole below the waterline after the collision.”
09. at the waterline
“The hull was widest at the waterline for extra stability.”
10. just above the waterline
“Barnacles had formed just above the waterline on the hull.”
11. just below the waterline
“The torpedo struck just below the waterline on the port side.”
12. painted at the waterline
“A white stripe is painted at the waterline to mark the load limit.”
Etymology
From water + line.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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