AIRFOIL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does airfoil mean? 

• AIRFOIL (noun)
  The noun AIRFOIL has 1 sense:

1. a device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight

  Familiarity information: AIRFOIL used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AIRFOIL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A device that provides reactive force when in motion relative to the surrounding air; can lift or control a plane in flight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

aerofoil; airfoil; control surface; surface

Hypernyms ("airfoil" is a kind of...):

device (an instrumentality invented for a particular purpose)

Meronyms (parts of "airfoil"):

leading edge (forward edge of an airfoil)

trailing edge (the rear edge of an airfoil)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "airfoil"):

aileron (an airfoil that controls lateral motion)

elevator (the airfoil on the tailplane of an aircraft that makes it ascend or descend)

flap; flaps (a movable airfoil that is part of an aircraft wing; used to increase lift or drag)

horizontal stabiliser; horizontal stabilizer; tailplane (the horizontal airfoil of an aircraft's tail assembly that is fixed and to which the elevator is hinged)

rotary wing; rotor blade (the long airfoil that rotates to provide the lift that supports a helicopter in the air)

rudder (a hinged vertical airfoil mounted at the tail of an aircraft and used to make horizontal course changes)

spoiler (a hinged airfoil on the upper surface of an aircraft wing that is raised to reduce lift and increase drag)

spoiler (an airfoil mounted on the rear of a car to reduce lift at high speeds)

stabilizer (airfoil consisting of a device for stabilizing an aircraft)

vertical tail (the vertical airfoil in the tail assembly of an aircraft)

wing (one of the horizontal airfoils on either side of the fuselage of an airplane)