heavier-than-air
|heav-i-er-than-air|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈhɛviər ðæn ɛr/
🇬🇧
/ˈhɛviə ðæn eə/
aircraft requiring lift
Etymology
Etymology Information
'heavier-than-air' originates from the English words 'heavy' and 'air', combined to describe aircraft that require lift to fly.
Historical Evolution
The term 'heavier-than-air' was coined in the early 20th century to distinguish between different types of flying machines.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'aircraft requiring lift to fly', and this meaning has remained consistent.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
referring to aircraft that are denser than the air they displace, requiring aerodynamic lift to stay aloft.
The Wright brothers' plane was the first successful heavier-than-air powered aircraft.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/28 14:05