amphibian Definition
- 1a cold-blooded vertebrate animal of a class that comprises the frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. They are distinguished by having an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed (typically) by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage.
- 2a vehicle that is designed to be used both on land and in water
Using amphibian: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "amphibian" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The pond was full of amphibians like frogs and salamanders.
Example
The military uses amphibians to transport troops across rivers.
Example
The amphibian's life cycle involves a metamorphosis from a water-breathing larva to a lung-breathing adult.
amphibian Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for amphibian
Phrases with amphibian
Example
The Coast Guard uses amphibian aircraft to rescue people stranded at sea.
Example
The Gibbs Aquada is an amphibian car that can travel up to 30 mph on water.
Example
The Soviet T-37 amphibian tank was used during World War II.
Origins of amphibian
from Greek 'amphi-' meaning 'both' + 'bios' meaning 'life'
Summary: amphibian in Brief
An 'amphibian' [æmˈfɪbiən] is a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that has an aquatic gill-breathing larval stage followed by a terrestrial lung-breathing adult stage. Examples include frogs, toads, newts, and salamanders. 'Amphibian' also refers to vehicles that can operate on both land and water, such as amphibian aircraft and amphibian tanks.