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Hydroplaning: meaning, definitions and examples

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hydroplaning

 

[ ˈhaɪ.drəˌpleɪ.nɪŋ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

driving condition

Hydroplaning is a driving condition that occurs when a vehicle's tires lose contact with the road surface due to water, causing the driver to lose control. This typically happens when there is a significant amount of water on the road and the vehicle is traveling at a high speed. Hydroplaning can lead to accidents and is a serious hazard for motorists.

Synonyms

aquaplaning, water sliding

Examples of usage

  • The car started hydroplaning on the wet road.
  • Drivers should be cautious to avoid hydroplaning in rainy weather.
  • Hydroplaning can happen quickly if you drive too fast on a flooded street.

Translations

Translations of the word "hydroplaning" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hidroplanagem

🇮🇳 हाइड्रोप्लेनिंग

🇩🇪 Hydroplaning

🇮🇩 hidroplaning

🇺🇦 гідропланування

🇵🇱 hydroplaning

🇯🇵 ハイドロプレーニング

🇫🇷 hydroplanage

🇪🇸 hidroplaneo

🇹🇷 hidroplanlama

🇰🇷 수륙 비행

🇸🇦 الطيران المائي

🇨🇿 hydroplaning

🇸🇰 hydroplaning

🇨🇳 水上滑行

🇸🇮 hidroplaniranje

🇮🇸 vatnsflötun

🇰🇿 гидропланирование

🇬🇪 ჰიდროპლანირება

🇦🇿 hidroplanlama

🇲🇽 hidroplaneo

Etymology

The term 'hydroplaning' is derived from the word 'hydro,' which comes from the Greek 'hudôr,' meaning water, and 'planing,' which relates to the action of gliding smoothly. The concept became relevant in the early 20th century with the increasing use of automobiles on paved roads. As vehicles became faster and road designs evolved, the phenomenon of losing traction because of water becoming trapped between the tires and the road surface was observed. The term has been used since at least the 1950s to describe this specific driving hazard, particularly under conditions of heavy rain. Awareness of hydroplaning has grown over the years, leading to improvements in tire designs and road safety campaigns aimed at educating drivers about how to respond to wet conditions and minimize the risk of hydroplaning.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,722, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.