hydrofoil

noun

hy·​dro·​foil ˈhī-drə-ˌfȯi(-ə)l 

1

: a body similar to an airfoil but designed for action in or on water

2

: a motorboat that has metal plates or fins attached by struts fore and aft for lifting the hull clear of the water as speed is attained

Illustration of hydrofoil

• hydrofoil 2

Examples of hydrofoil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Candela launched a ferry in Stockholm this year that uses a hydrofoil system suited for electrification. —Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024

Salzmann and Podlipnik started by gradually adapting the concept of a hydrofoil to this very different use case. —New Atlas, 5 Nov. 2024

This innovative craft combines elements of boats, hydrofoils and aircraft to create a unique and efficient mode of transport. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 20 Sep. 2024

But a hydrofoil system can pull the seaglider up out of the water for a low-drag, high-efficiency path to takeoff, and the ground effect can radically boost range during flight. —New Atlas, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hydrofoil

noun

hy·​dro·​foil ˈhī-drə-ˌfȯil 

: a boat that has fins attached to the bottom by braces for lifting the hull clear of the water to allow faster speeds