contrail

[kon-treyl]

noun

1. a visible condensation of water droplets or ice crystals from the atmosphere, occurring in the wake of an aircraft, rocket, or missile under certain conditions.

contrail

/ ˈkɒntreɪl /

noun

1. another name for vapour trail

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrail¹

First recorded in 1940–45; con(densation) trail

Word History and Origins

Origin of contrail¹

C20: from _con ( _densation ) + _trail

Example Sentences

Environmental Protection Agency launched two new websites to “address public questions and concerns “ about weather modification, geoengineering, and contrails, or the thin clouds that form behind aircraft at high altitudes.

From Los Angeles Times

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the two sites, which focus on the topics of geoengineering and airplane contrails, in a video shared on Thursday.

From Salon

Aryan loved the roaring sound of the engine fill the air and then grow louder as the plane cruised above him, leaving behind chalky threads of contrail in the sky,

From BBC

They reminisced about quiet city centres and skies clear of contrails.

From BBC

When a plane passes through cold humid air, the contrails form as the vapour from the engines condenses on unburned fuel fragments in the exhaust stream.

From BBC