hydrodynamic

adjective

hy·​dro·​dy·​nam·​ic ˌhī-drō-dī-ˈna-mik 

variants or less commonly hydrodynamical

ˌhī-drō-dī-ˈna-mi-kəl 

: of, relating to, or involving principles of hydrodynamics

hydrodynamically

ˌhī-drō-dī-ˈna-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Bernoulli's principle, which is basic to the science of hydrodynamics, says that the faster a fluid substance flows, the less outward pressure it exerts. It shows the close relationship between hydrodynamics and aerodynamics (which deals with the movement of air and other gases), since it can partly explain how air will "lift" an airplane by the way it flows over the wings, and how a spoiler helps keep a race car's wheels pressed to the ground as it accelerates. Hydrodynamics is sometimes applied today in studying the surface of the planets and even the stars. As used informally by boaters, hydrodynamic often means "hydrodynamically efficient".

Examples of hydrodynamic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That was very unexpected, and at present, there are no hydrodynamic explanations. —New Atlas, 11 Oct. 2024

That was very unexpected, and at present there are no hydrodynamic explanations. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Oct. 2024

Speedo created its own innovation by studying sharks’ hydrodynamic properties and applying them to a swimsuit. —Duncan Wardle, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

This year looks like a small downward blip historically when compared to the anomalous 2008, when Speedo introduced its LZR swimsuit designed to repel water and make the body more hydrodynamic. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 5 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin hydrodynamicus, from hydr- + dynamicus dynamic

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

hydrodynamic

adjective

hy·​dro·​dy·​nam·​ic -dī-ˈnam-ik 

variants also hydrodynamical

-i-kəl 

: of, relating to, or involving principles of hydrodynamics