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Synonyms

flying machine

American  

noun

  1. a vehicle that sustains itself in and propels itself through the air; an airplane, helicopter, glider, or the like.


Etymology

Origin of flying machine

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Yet in some ways, Pivotal’s technology is even more audacious, in that it puts a human pilot—potentially a squirmy, Earth-hugging rookie like me—squarely into the control loop of a flying machine.

From The Wall Street Journal Oct. 17, 2025

And reams on new Australian athletics sprint sensation, the 17-year-old flying machine, Gout Gout.

From BBC Jun. 27, 2025

In the Ethiopian Air crash, this angle of attack reading jumped from about 12° to 74.5° in less than a second, which would clearly be physically impossible for a flying machine weighing over 100,000 pounds.

From Salon Jan. 26, 2024

Last year, that slot was occupied by the lean, mean flying machine “Plane,” starring Gerard Butler.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 11, 2024

Between Red Rabbit and us, we’ll carry your flying machine to Heaven and back if we have to.

From "Dragonwings" by Laurence Yep

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