trimaran
C2Technical, nautical
Definition
Meaning
A sailing vessel with three parallel hulls.
Any vessel or structure featuring three hulls or floats connected by a deck or framework, designed for stability and speed.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is a compound of 'tri-' (three) and 'catamaran', indicating a three-hulled version of the two-hulled catamaran. It is a hyponym of 'multihull'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Associated with high-performance sailing, racing, and modern yacht design in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to nautical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [ADJECTIVE] trimaran [VERBed] across the [BODY OF WATER].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in marine manufacturing or charter business contexts.
Academic
Used in naval architecture, engineering, and maritime history papers.
Everyday
Very rare; used only by sailing enthusiasts or in coastal regions.
Technical
Standard term in nautical engineering, yacht design, and competitive sailing.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The trimaran design offers exceptional stability.
- We studied trimaran hydrodynamics.
American English
- The trimaran configuration is popular for racing.
- It's a trimaran sailing yacht.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I saw a big boat with three parts. It was a trimaran.
- The trimaran is faster than many normal sailboats because of its three hulls.
- After years of sailing a monohull, she decided to upgrade to a custom-built trimaran for its speed and stability in open water.
- The naval architect's thesis focused on optimising the outrigger placement for a wave-piercing trimaran design to reduce drag in heavy seas.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'TRI-cycle' + 'cataMARAN' = TRIMARAN, a boat with THREE hulls.
Conceptual Metaphor
STABILITY IS A BROAD BASE (The three hulls provide a wide, stable platform).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'тримаран' unless in a very technical context; the established Russian term is 'тримаран' but it's a direct loanword, so the concept may be unfamiliar.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'trimarian' or 'trimaron'.
- Confusing it with 'catamaran' (two hulls) or 'proa' (asymmetric hulls).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary defining feature of a trimaran?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A catamaran has two parallel hulls, while a trimaran has three (a main hull with two smaller outrigger hulls).
No, 'trimaran' is exclusively a noun. The related activity is 'trimaran sailing'.
Primarily, yes, but the three-hulled design principle is also used for some powerboats and even offshore patrol vessels.
No, it is a low-frequency, technical term most familiar to sailors, boat designers, and maritime enthusiasts.