angle of incidence

noun

1. Also called incidence. Optics, Physics. the angle that a straight line, ray of light, etc., meeting a surface, makes with a normal to the surface at the point of meeting. : aoi Compare angle of reflection.
2. (on an airplane) the angle, usually fixed, between a wing or tail root chord and the axis of the fuselage.
3. Chiefly British. angle of attack ( def 1 ).

angle of incidence

noun

1. the angle that a line or beam of radiation makes with the normal to the surface at the point of incidence
2. another name for angle of attack
3. Also calledrigging angle of incidence the angle between the chord line of an aircraft wing or tailplane and the aircraft's longitudinal axis

angle of incidence

1. The angle formed by a ray or wave, as of light or sound, striking a surface and a line perpendicular to the surface at the point of impact.

Word History and Origins

Origin of angle of incidence¹

First recorded in 1620–30