VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

breach in the hull

phrase·Advancedtechnical

Last updated

UK/ˌbriːtʃ ɪn ðə ˈhʌl/
US/ˌbriːtʃ ɪn ðə ˈhʌl/

Meanings

  1. phrasecountabletechnical

    A hole or break in the body of a ship, boat, or aircraft that lets water or air in.

    Grammar: Countable phrase: one breach, two breaches; it usually takes 'in': a breach in the hull.

    Patterns

    • a breach in the hull
    • cause a breach in the hull
    • repair a breach in the hull

    The storm opened a breach in the hull, and the crew began pumping out water.

    Divers found a breach in the hull near the bow.

    A breach in the hull of the aircraft would have caused a sudden loss of pressure.

  2. phrasecountablefigurative

    A serious failure or hole in a system, defense, or agreement that lets something harmful through.

    Grammar: Used figuratively, often with 'in': a breach in the security net.

    Patterns

    • a breach in something
    • close a breach in something

    The leak was a breach in the company's data protection.

    Officials promised to close the breach in the border fence.

Word forms

pluralbreaches in the hull

Common combinations

a breach in the hull
A breach in the hull forced the captain to abandon ship.
plug a breach in the hull
Sailors used canvas to plug a breach in the hull.
a gaping breach in the hull
The collision left a gaping breach in the hull.
water pouring through a breach in the hull
Water poured through a breach in the hull within minutes.
inspect the hull for breaches
The team inspected the hull for breaches before the voyage.

Synonyms and how they differ

hole
The general everyday word; 'breach' is more technical and suggests damage that lets something dangerous in.
leak
Focuses on the escaping water or air rather than the opening itself.
crack
A thin line of damage; a breach is usually a wider, more serious opening.

Word family

breach noun
A general break or failure, as in a breach of contract.
breach verb
To make an opening or to break a rule or agreement.
hull noun
The main body of a ship or aircraft.

Commonly confused: breach in the hull or beach? breach in the hull or break?

breach in the hull vs beach

'Beach' is the sandy shore and sounds almost the same in some accents; 'breach' is a break or opening.

breach in the hull vs break

'Break' is the everyday verb and noun; 'breach' is more formal and often used for openings in structures or failures of rules.

Practice

After the collision, seawater poured through a ___ in the hull.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “breach in the hull”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words