sound barrier

noun

1. Also called sonic barrier, (not in technical use) a hypothetical barrier to flight beyond the speed of sound, so postulated because aircraft undergo an abruptly increasing drag force induced by compression of the surrounding air when traveling near the speed of sound.

sound barrier

noun

1. not in technical usage a hypothetical barrier to flight at or above the speed of sound, when a sudden large increase in drag occurs Also calledsonic barriertransonic barrier

Word History and Origins

Origin of sound barrier¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. break the sound barrier, to travel faster than the speed of sound.

Example Sentences

It was called, rather dramatically, breaking the sound barrier.

From The Daily Beast

Pawel Szaniawski talks to the extreme athlete about the stunt, its purpose, and what it will feel like to break the sound barrier.

From The Daily Beast

You have heard the sound barrier, of a plane breaking the sound barrier, bang, bang?

From Project Gutenberg

Again, I am going to refer to it as like a plane going through a sound barrier; bang, bang.

From Project Gutenberg

Even in this era of sophisticated flight there have been those who said the sound barrier would never be broken.

From Project Gutenberg