condensation trail

American  

noun

1. contrail.

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condensation trail British  

noun

1. another name for vapour trail

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Etymology

Origin of condensation trail

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

In addition to producing bright flames from its engines, a rocket leaves behind a trail of water vapor from its exhaust, which forms a condensation trail — a long artificial cloud that this month was visible some time after the rocket disappeared.

From Seattle Times

In addition to producing bright flames from its engines, a rocket leaves behind a trail of water vapor from its exhaust, which condenses and freezes to form a condensation trail, or contrail — a long artificial cloud that, on Sunday night, and during a launch last December pictured below, was visible some time after the rocket disappeared.

From New York Times

"It is difficult to imagine, without actually seeing it, what the sky looked like with 700 to 800 B-17s and B-24s in the air, particularly when each plane produced its own condensation trail under certain atmospheric conditions," Stelzriede wrote.

From US News