air pocket

noun

1. (not in technical use) a nearly vertical air current that can cause an aircraft to experience a sudden change in altitude, usually a decrease.

air pocket

noun

1. a localized region of low air density or a descending air current, causing an aircraft to suffer an abrupt decrease in height
2. any pocket of air that prevents the flow of a liquid or gas, as in a pipe

Word History and Origins

Origin of air pocket¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Yet another is as a completely enclosed space, such as an air pocket in Swiss cheese.

From Quanta Magazine

It swells up when wet, closing off air pockets and creating a watertight seal.

From Washington Post

In birds, the medulla of the bone is full of air pockets, which help make birds light enough to fly.

From Science News For Students

Scrambled eggs, for example, have a lot of air pockets and may lose heat more quickly than something denser, like soup.

From Outside Online

You may need to poke around with a narrow spatula or knife to get rid of air pockets.

From Popular-Science

Air Pocket—A local movement or condition of the air causing an aeroplane to drop or lose its correct attitude.

From Project Gutenberg

No; if it had been compressible you would not have had that exhibition at the air pocket.

From Project Gutenberg

John was good enough to consider my wretched air-pocket nerves rather than his petrol.

From Project Gutenberg

True enough; it was an air pocket which extended in about fifty feet, and had no passageway beyond.

From Project Gutenberg

For perhaps ten seconds he hung thus, till the monoplane, rocking through an air-pocket, tilted violently.

From Project Gutenberg