airfoil

[ air-foil ]

noun

, Aeronautics.

1. any surface, as a wing, aileron, or stabilizer, designed to aid in lifting or controlling an aircraft by making use of the air currents through which it moves.

airfoil

/ ˈɛəˌfɔɪl /

noun

1. a cross section of an aileron, wing, tailplane, or rotor blade Also calledaerofoil

airfoil

/ âr′foil′ /

1. A structure having a shape that provides lift, propulsion, stability, or directional control in a flying object. An aircraft wing provides lift by causing air to pass at a higher speed over the wing than below it, resulting in greater pressure below than above. Propellers are airfoils that are spun rapidly to provide propulsion.
2. See more at Bernoulli effectSee Note at aerodynamics

Word History and Origins

Origin of airfoil¹

First recorded in 1920–25; air ¹ + foil ²

Example Sentences

Engineers designed a product component, such as an airfoil, on a computer and then tasked a modeler or sculptor to craft the item in clay, wood, or stock components for physical testing.

From MIT Technology Review

To escape predators beneath the waves, a flying fish can shoot out of the water and glide long distances because its paired pectoral and pelvic fins, longer and more rigid than those of other fish, act as airfoils.

From Quanta Magazine

Every surface has been meticulously shaped for aerodynamic efficiency, with airfoil cross sections even on the seatpost, and all shift and brake cables entirely hidden inside the frame and cockpit.

From Outside Online

You can use aerodynamic flight, with wings that generate lift through the flow of a fluid over an airfoil.

From Nautilus

It’s just saying that somewhere, it is almost inevitable that creatures are making use of an airfoil to generate lift.

From Nautilus