hydrodynamic

American  

[hahy-droh-dahy-nam-ik, -di-] / ˌhaɪ droʊ daɪˈnæm ɪk, -dɪ- /

adjective

1. pertaining to forces in or motions of liquids.

2. of or relating to hydrodynamics.

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hydrodynamic British  

/ -dɪ-, ˌhaɪdrəʊdaɪˈnæmɪk /

adjective

1. of or concerned with the mechanical properties of fluids

2. of or concerned with hydrodynamics

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Other Word Forms

• hydrodynamically adverb

Etymology

Origin of hydrodynamic

First recorded in 1770–80; hydro- ¹ + dynamic

Example Sentences

In a statement Tuesday, harbor officials said the incident illuminated “a new vulnerability in floating dock design: a previously underrecognized hydrodynamic failure mechanism.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 5, 2025

“In contrast, the great white shark, with a stocky body that becomes even stockier as it grows, can be 'large' but cannot pass 23 feet to be 'gigantic' because of hydrodynamic constraints.”

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2025

The new detection method combined the traditional vertical hydrodynamic nonlinear rectification effect of 2D plasmons with the addition of a vertical diode-current nonlinearity.

From Science Daily • Dec. 28, 2023

“The support for the hydrodynamic explanation is now very strong, and the support for the termite cause is very weak,” Dr. Tschinkel said.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2022

Every other mammal that went to sea—seals, sea cows, dolphins—had to evolve for aeons to develop specialised organs and a hydrodynamic body.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari