wingspan

American  

[wing-span] / ˈwɪŋˌspæn /

noun

1. the distance between the wing tips of an airplane.

2. wingspread.

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wingspan British  

/ ˈwɪŋˌspæn, ˈwɪŋˌsprɛd /

noun

1. the distance between the wing tips of an aircraft, bird, etc

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Etymology

Origin of wingspan

First recorded in 1915–20; wing + span ¹

Example Sentences

“Huge wingspan. Forked tail. It had a white chest but was otherwise black.”

From Literature

And the best available data, such as wingspan or 40-yard dash time, have little to do with actual blocking or tackling.

From The Wall Street Journal

It can weigh as much as 5½ pounds with a wingspan of nearly 5 feet and have large, powerful talons.

From Los Angeles Times

Each is 80 to 100 feet wide, sized for helicopters and warplanes that have shorter wingspans than most commercial passenger aircraft, said Damien Symon, a researcher at The Intel Lab, an intelligence consulting firm.

From The Wall Street Journal

The wingspan of an adult bald eagle ranges from 5.5 to 8 feet across; it’s roughly the same for a golden eagle.

From Los Angeles Times