semirigid

American  

[sem-ee-rij-id, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈrɪdʒ ɪd, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. not fully rigid; partly rigid.

2. Aeronautics. noting or pertaining to a type of airship whose shape is maintained by means of a rigid keellike structure and by internal gas pressure.

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semirigid British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈrɪdʒɪd /

adjective

1. partly but not wholly rigid

2. (of an airship) maintaining shape by means of a main supporting keel and internal gas pressure

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Etymology

Origin of semirigid

First recorded in 1905–10; semi- + rigid

Example Sentences

The coast guard dispatched several vessels to assist, including semirigid inflatable boats and a tugboat, and found several people who were unconscious and in critical condition aboard.

From New York Times • Apr. 23, 2024

Use semirigid or rigid metal ducting, which is smoother inside and less likely to catch lint.

From Washington Post • Aug. 8, 2022

“On the outside, obviously, he’s a semirigid blue gel, but ideologically, he feels an affinity with—”

From Slate • Feb. 29, 2020

Its replacement, Wingfoot Two, will look about the same, but it will be a semirigid dirigible.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2017

This ship was a semirigid and was of a new shape, the envelope resembling in external appearance a cigar.

From British Airships, Past, Present, and Future by Whale, George