airspeed

noun

air·​speed ˈer-ˌspēd How to pronounce airspeed (audio)
: the speed (as of an airplane) with relation to the air compare ground speed

Examples of airspeed in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Over the course of two days, seven testers evaluated the fans using a pre-determined methodology and scored them across five categories: airspeed, design, portability, effectiveness, and overall value. Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Feb. 2024 This will allow the team to evaluate airplane performance and handling characteristics over a range of relevant weights, altitudes, and airspeeds while using only turbine-engine power. Amy Jankovsky, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Nov. 2023 The recorder contains data on flight parameters such as altitude, airspeed, and other important information. CBS News, 25 Nov. 2023 At first, when a couple of sentries popped up to debate swallow airspeed velocity in the turrets of Paul Tate dePoo III’s set (a Technicolor mash-up of mostly flat scenery and hyperactive Terry Gilliam–esque projections that Tate also designed), my heart sank just a bit. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2023 The second black box is a flight-data recorder that can track more than 1,000 flight characteristics from the plane’s basic conditions, such as airspeed and altitude, to the status of smoke alarms or the positioning of the wing’s flaps. Benjamin Katz, WSJ, 25 Mar. 2022 The six independent motors operate the eVTOL in flight, with an airspeed up to 150 mph. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 3 July 2023 Our testers were quite impressed by its sleek design, which includes a metal build and thoughtful features like its LED display, adjustable height, and wide range of airspeed settings. Samantha Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2023 Plaintiffs had accused Air France of insufficiently training its pilots on how to react when the airspeed sensors malfunctioned. Aurelien Breeden, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airspeed.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airspeed was in 1909

Dictionary Entries Near airspeed

Cite this Entry

“Airspeed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airspeed. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

airspeed

noun
air·​speed -ˌspēd How to pronounce airspeed (audio)
: the speed of an airplane according to measurements of the surrounding air rather than of the ground below
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