Meaning & use
aquaplaning
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
A dangerous situation in which a vehicle's tires lose contact with a wet road and slide on a thin layer of water.
Grammar: Uncountable: no plural and no 'a' before it; say 'aquaplaning is dangerous', not 'an aquaplaning'.
Patterns
- aquaplaning on something
- cause aquaplaning
- prevent aquaplaning
The driver lost control when aquaplaning sent the car sliding across the wet highway.
Heavy rain and worn tires can cause aquaplaning, so slow down in storms.
Aquaplaning is most likely when water is deeper than the tire tread.
noununcountable
The sport or activity of riding a board pulled over water behind a fast boat.
Grammar: Also uncountable; often used after 'go' when talking about the activity.
Patterns
- go aquaplaning
- aquaplaning behind something
We went aquaplaning on the lake last summer and took turns on the board.
Aquaplaning behind a speedboat looks easy but takes strong arms and balance.
Common combinations
- aquaplaning accident
- The police blamed the aquaplaning accident on the flooded road.
- risk of aquaplaning
- There is a high risk of aquaplaning when the road is covered with standing water.
- aquaplaning on the road
- Aquaplaning on the road made the bus difficult to steer.
- reduce the risk of aquaplaning
- New tires with deep tread reduce the risk of aquaplaning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hydroplaning
- The usual American term for the same tire-on-water effect; 'aquaplaning' is more common in British English.
- skidding
- A broader word for any loss of grip, including on ice or gravel, not only on water.
Word family
- aquaplane verb
- To slide on a wet road because the tires have lost contact with the surface.
Commonly confused: aquaplaning or hydroplaning?
aquaplaning vs hydroplaning
Same meaning, but 'hydroplaning' is the standard term in American English, while 'aquaplaning' is standard in British English.
Practice
Aquaplaning happens when a vehicle's tires slide on a thin layer of water, so drivers should _____.
Choose one answer.
Slowing down and avoiding sudden turns is the standard advice because it helps the tires regain contact with the road. Speeding up would make the loss of grip worse, not better.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aquaplaning”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.