waterline
waterline — noun
1. The line on a ship's or boat's side where the surface of the water meets the hul
The line on a ship's or boat's side where the surface of the water meets the hull. This line moves up or down depending on how much weight the vessel is carrying.
Nikhil watched the ferry's waterline rise as more passengers stepped on board.
waterline + verb of movement (rise, fall, sit)
Divers inspected the hull below the waterline for cracks after the storm.
below the waterline
After loading crude oil, the tanker's waterline sat much lower in the water.
The harbour master checked the waterline on each fishing boat before allowing it to leave.
- water level
Broader term usable for rivers, tanks, or any body of water; less specific to ships
- load line
Refers specifically to the painted regulatory marking on a ship, not the actual water contact line
- Plimsoll line
A type of load line named after Samuel Plimsoll; formal and technical, less common in everyday speech
文法句型
the waterline + of + noun
above/below the waterline
用法筆記
Often used with prepositions above, below, or at to describe position relative to the water's surface. The phrase 'below the waterline' is also used figuratively to mean hidden from public view.
常見錯誤
2. The highest point that water from a sea, river, or lake reaches on the shore, ba
The highest point that water from a sea, river, or lake reaches on the shore, bank, or land. This level can change with tides, rainfall, or seasonal flooding.
Romi spotted an old waterline high on the cliff from a flood years ago.
old waterline — mark left by past water level
After the typhoon, the waterline along the riverbank had climbed more than two metres.
The coastal team measured the waterline every spring to track how the beach was changing.
The high tide left a clear waterline of seaweed and shells across the entire bay.
- shoreline
Describes the boundary where land meets water as a fixed geographical feature, not the variable water level
- water level
More general term usable for any body of water; less specific to the land interface
- high-water mark
Emphasises the highest point reached, often as a visible stain or debris line
文法句型
the waterline + of + [sea/river/lake]
waterline + verb + [preposition]
用法筆記
Frequently used with verbs that describe change, such as rise, climb, fall, move, or recede. Geographers and environmental scientists use this term to track coastal erosion and flooding patterns.
常見錯誤
3. A pipe that carries water as part of a supply system, usually to buildings or th
A pipe that carries water as part of a supply system, usually to buildings or through a city. Damage to a waterline often causes leaks or flooding.
Harper called the plumber after a burst waterline flooded the kitchen floor.
burst waterline
The city replaced the old iron waterline with a wider plastic pipe.
Construction workers accidentally broke a waterline while digging the new subway tunnel.
The school's waterline froze during the cold snap and burst early in the morning.
- water pipe
More general term for any pipe that carries water; less specific to supply systems
- water main
Refers specifically to the main underground pipe in a public supply system, not a branch pipe to a building
- supply line
Broader term that can carry water, gas, or other utilities; less specific
文法句型
a waterline
the waterline + [verb of damage/repair]
burst/broken waterline
用法筆記
Common in construction, plumbing, and municipal infrastructure contexts. In British English, this is often called a water main when it refers to the main supply pipe in a street.
常見錯誤
4. A painted mark on a ship's exterior showing the correct depth at which the water
A painted mark on a ship's exterior showing the correct depth at which the water should reach the hull under normal loading conditions. It serves as a visual guide for safe loading.
The shipyard workers repainted the waterline on the hull during the annual maintenance.
repainted the waterline
Emre explained that the waterline markings show whether a ship is carrying too much weight.
The captain checked that the waterline was still clearly visible above the rusted lower section.
International safety rules require every cargo vessel to have visible waterline markings on both sides.
- load line
More formal term used in international shipping regulations; often interchangeable with waterline in sense 4
- Plimsoll line
A specific type of load line named after Samuel Plimsoll; required by law on most commercial vessels
- draft mark
A numerical marking near the waterline that shows the vessel's current draft in metres or feet
文法句型
the waterline markings
repaint the waterline
waterline on the hull
用法筆記
This is a technical sense used mainly in shipbuilding and maritime safety. It is closely related to the Plimsoll line (load line) but waterline here refers to the painted mark itself, not the regulatory certification. Distinguish from sense 1, which describes the actual physical water level on the hull rather than the painted guide.