airfoil - Meaning, Image, Examples & Etymology - Learn English Visually

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airfoil

|air-foil|

🇺🇸

/ˈɛrˌfɔɪl/

🇬🇧

/ˈeə.fɔɪl/

wing shape

Etymology

Etymology Information

'airfoil' originates from the combination of 'air' and 'foil', where 'foil' refers to a thin, flat piece of material.

Historical Evolution

'airfoil' was coined in the early 20th century as aviation technology developed.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to any thin, flat piece of material, but over time it evolved to specifically mean a structure designed to produce lift in flight.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a structure with a curved surface designed to give the most favorable ratio of lift to drag in flight, used as the basic form of the wings, fins, and tailplanes of most aircraft.

The airplane's wings are designed with a specific airfoil to maximize lift.

Synonyms

Examples

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42