ramjet

[ram-jet]

noun

1. a jet engine operated by the injection of fuel into a stream of air compressed by the forward speed of the aircraft.

ramjet

/ ˈræmˌdʒɛt /

noun

1. Also called: athodyd. 

   1. a type of jet engine in which fuel is burned in a duct using air compressed by the forward speed of the aircraft

   2. an aircraft powered by such an engine

ramjet

1. A cylindrical jet propulsion engine consisting of air intake and combustion chambers into which burning fuel is injected, forcing hot air out of the rear of the engine at high pressures to provide forward thrust.

2. See Note at turbojet

Word History and Origins

Origin of ramjet¹

First recorded in 1940–45; ram ¹ + jet ¹

Example Sentences

A scramjet is a supersonic combustion ramjet involving combustion that uses the forward speed of the aircraft as part of its propulsion.

Read more on Washington Times

This makes ramjet missiles suitable for firing in the atmosphere, but near or through space like rockets.

Read more on Fox News

Another daunting challenge is the supersonic combustion ramjet, — or “scramjet” — engine that powers hypersonic cruise missiles such as those in the Air Force’s conventional strike weapon contract.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Development of a larger scramjet engine — formally known as a supersonic combustion ramjet — also has been challenging.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There’s plenty of hypothetical innovation, too: ramjet fusion machines, antimatter engines and “laser porting” of human connectomes to enable bodiless exploration of the cosmos.

Read more on Nature

Related Words

• aircraft 
• airliner 
• cab 
• jet 
• plane 
• ship