In an amphibious military operation, army and navy forces attack a place from the sea.
A third brigade is at sea, ready for an amphibious assault.
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
An amphibious vehicle is able to move on both land and water.
...an amphibious landing craft which can carry helicopters and up to 2,000 troops.
3. adjective
Amphibious animals are animals such as frogs and toads that can live both on land and in water.
amphibious in British English
(æmˈfɪbɪəs)
adjective
1.
able to live both on land and in the water, as frogs, toads, etc
2.
designed for operation on or from both water and land
3.
relating to military forces and equipment organized for operations launched from the sea against an enemy shore
4.
having a dual or mixed nature
Derived forms
amphibiously (amˈphibiously)
adverb
amphibiousness (amˈphibiousness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Greek amphibios, literally: having a double life, from amphi- + bios life
amphibious in American English
(æmˈfɪbiəs)
adjective
1.
that can live both on land and in water
2.
that can operate or travel on both land and water
3.
designating, of, or for a military operation involving the landing of assault troops on a shore from seaborne transports
4.
having two natures or qualities; of a mixed nature
Derived forms
amphibiously (amˈphibiously)
adverb
Word origin
Gr amphibios, living a double life < amphi-, amphi- + bios, life: see bio-
Examples of 'amphibious' in a sentence
amphibious
The plan was to make an amphibious landing and strike at night.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Two amphibious vehicles rolled into the county yesterday to transport people and supplies.
The Sun (2014)
His interest in amphibious vehicles has garnered attention recently.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The amphibious landing support ship has a huge flat deck that is ideal for holding large numbers of people relatively comfortably.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Given the lead time indispensable to a huge amphibious operation, a commitment was needed forthwith.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
Until now the only access to the villages has been by boat or a tracked amphibious vehicle that has been acting as a taxi.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He promised amphibious vehicles to deliver supplies, manpower to fill sandbags and military expertise to help with logistics.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
All are capable of amphibious operations and can carry 1,000 marines and scores of tanks and armoured personnel carriers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
British amphibious operations had succeeded in the past when they had been directed against targets where the navy could deprive the enemy of supplies and reinforcements.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
The number of troops committed to operations in the colonies or to amphibious operations around the periphery of the enemies' coastline were negligible.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
I suggest that the Russians were using some sort of amphibious vehicle or maybe a landing craft.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
We were in the last stages of launching Britain's first wartime amphibious landing in years.
Admiral Sandy Woodward, With Patrick Robinson ONE HUNDRED DAYS (2003)
They were to man small boats laden with explosives, deployed to meet American amphibious landings.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
An amphibious vehicle manned by volunteers is offered to ship us out but I am sure they have far more pressing cases.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
amphibious
British English: amphibious ADJECTIVE
In an amphibious military operation, army and navy forces attack a place from the sea.
A third brigade is at sea, ready for an amphibious assault.