autorotation

[ aw-toh-roh-tey-shuhn ]

noun

, Aeronautics.

1. the condition of flight occurring when lift is derived solely from the action of air upon the unpowered rotor of a moving helicopter or autogiro.

autorotation

/ ˌɔːtəʊrəʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the continuous rotation of a body in an airflow, such as that of the rotor blades of a helicopter in an unpowered descent

Other Words From

• auto·ro·tation·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of autorotation¹

First recorded in 1915–20; auto- ¹ + rotation