nacelle
Americannoun
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the enclosed part of an airplane, dirigible, etc., in which the engine is housed or in which cargo or passengers are carried.
-
the car of a balloon.
noun
Etymology
Origin of nacelle
1475–85; < French: a small boat < Late Latin nāvicella, for Latin nāvicula, equivalent to nāvi ( s ) ship ( see nave) + -cula -cule 1
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.
Vestas currently operates two factories in Poland, an onshore blade plant that it recently acquired, and an offshore nacelle assembly facility.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
As the San Diego-bound flight lifted off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the covers on both sides of the left engine pod — called a nacelle — came loose.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 23, 2022
Once the tower is securely fastened to the ocean floor, the nacelle, which houses the motor, is placed on top of it, and each of the three turbine blades are attached.
From Scientific American • Oct. 15, 2021
The nacelle capacity is expected to reach 100 per year, enough for 50 planes, the reports said, though no target date was stated.
From Reuters • Sep. 27, 2021
Peter, glancing aft through the window of the navigation-room, which being raised gave a clear view over the roof of the rest of the nacelle, saw at once what was amiss.
From The Airship "Golden Hind" by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
