semiaquatic

[ sem-ee-uh-kwat-ik, -kwot-, sem-ahy- ]

adjective

, Botany, Zoology.

1. partly aquatic; growing or living in or close to water, or carrying out part of its life cycle in water.

semiaquatic

/ ˌsɛmɪəˈkwætɪk /

adjective

1. (of organisms, esp plants) occurring close to the water and sometimes within it

semiaquatic

/ sĕm′ē-ə-kwăt′ĭk /

1. Adapted for living or growing in or near water, but not entirely aquatic.

Word History and Origins

Origin of semiaquatic¹

First recorded in 1825–35; semi- + aquatic

Example Sentences

It was a crew of semiaquatic rodents whose wetland-building skills have seen them gain popularity as a natural way to mitigate wildfires.

From Los Angeles Times

This research finding casts doubt on prevailing wisdom that slow growth in living crocodiles is linked to the evolution of their sedentary, semiaquatic lifestyles.

From Science Daily

The team found that there is a threshold between semiaquatic and fully aquatic species, and once that threshold has been passed, the aquatic adaptations are irreversible.

From Scientific American

“This is a semiaquatic animal. It would have lived kind of like a crocodile, kind of hanging around in rivers, catching fish.”

From Seattle Times

The platypus is a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal that is native to Australia, measures a foot or two, and has webbed feet and a duck-like bill.

From New York Times