propulsion

[pruh-puhl-shuh n]

See more synonyms for propulsion on Thesaurus.com

noun

the act or process of propelling.
the state of being propelled.
a means of propelling; propelling force, impulse, etc.

Origin of propulsion

1605–15; < Latin prōpuls(us) (past participle of prōpellere to propel) + -ion

Related formspro·pul·sive

[pruh-puhl-siv] /prəˈpʌl sɪv/, pro·pul·so·ry, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for propulsion

Contemporary Examples

These mostly focus on propulsion and transport, but 4M is a different concept.
Luxembourg and China Team Up on Private Mission to the Moon
Matthew R. Francis
October 26, 2014
It certainly cannot sail under its own power, as 80 percent of the electricity generated on board is used for propulsion.
Carnival Cruise Alum Jay Herring On What It’s Like Aboard the Triumph
Jay Herring
March 13, 2013

Historical Examples

Instinctively his hand leaped to the propulsion control and hovered there.
Loot of the Void
Edwin K. Sloat
The only article of propulsion we could hire were saddle mules.
Dangers of the Trail in 1865
Charles E Young
The boat trembled like an automobile under the propulsion of the engine.
Ruth Fielding Down East
Alice B. Emerson
But into the propulsion this time Bob put all his great strength.
The Radio Boys with the Revenue Guards
Gerald Breckenridge
A couple of shots might disable in a minute her means of propulsion.
Famous Sea Fights
John Richard Hale

British Dictionary definitions for propulsion

propulsion

noun

the act of propelling or the state of being propelled
a propelling force

Derived Formspropulsive (prəˈpʌlsɪv) or propulsory, adjective

Word Origin

C15: from Latin prōpellere to propel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for propulsion

n.

1610s, "expulsion," noun of action formed from propuls-, past participle stem of Latin propellere "to propel" (see propel). Meaning "act of driving forward, propulsive force" first attested 1799.

propulsion in Medicine

propulsion

(prə-pŭl′shən)

A driving or propelling force.
The leaning or falling forward characteristic of the festination of Parkinsonism.

propulsion

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}propulsion

Examples from the Web for propulsion

Contemporary Examples

These mostly focus on propulsion and transport, but 4M is a different concept.

It certainly cannot sail under its own power, as 80 percent of the electricity generated on board is used for propulsion.

Historical Examples

Instinctively his hand leaped to the propulsion control and hovered there.

The only article of propulsion we could hire were saddle mules.

The boat trembled like an automobile under the propulsion of the engine.

But into the propulsion this time Bob put all his great strength.

A couple of shots might disable in a minute her means of propulsion.

propulsion

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for propulsion

n.

propulsion

Origin of propulsion