pontoon plane
- noun
- /pɒnˈtuːn pleɪn/
- US
:
hidroavión
- The pontoon plane landed gracefully on the lake.
Examples
-
The scientist arrived on a remote island by pontoon plane early that morning.
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After refueling, the pontoon plane took off from the river for its next mission.
-
We saw a pontoon plane glide smoothly onto the surface of the lake.
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Did you see the pontoon plane take off?
-
The pilot skillfully navigated the pontoon plane to land gently on the lake's surface.
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She watched as the pontoon plane taxied along the water, preparing for takeoff.
-
After an exciting flight, they admired the view from their pontoon plane above the shimmering sea.
Synonyms
12
4.3
A plane that takes off from and lands on water
2
7.5
A large plane with a body like a boat that lets it land on and float on water
1
6.8
A small airplane with floats that takes off and lands on water
How Amphibious
- Specialized
- US
- Archaic
2
7.5
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'pontoon' = floating support/floats and 'plane' = aircraft, so a 'pontoon plane' is an aircraft fitted with pontoons to operate on water. This noun–noun compounding pattern is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Pontoon plane comes from the boat-like floats called pontoons that are fixed under a plane, so the aircraft can 'land on and take off from water'. That's why the name means 'a plane that can use water as its runway'.