DEFINITIONS
The
2019 WORD
OF THE YEAR is...

sound barrier

SEE SYNONYMS FOR sound barrier ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Also called sonic barrier, transonic barrier. (not in technical use) a hypothetical barrier to flight beyond the speed of sound, so postulated because aircraft undergo an abruptly increasing drag force induced by compression of the surrounding air when traveling near the speed of sound.

Content related to sound barrier

Words That Sound Made Up—But Aren’tRead more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.
READ MORE
Yummy Cocktails With Nasty-Sounding NamesBetween nasty and naughty, we take a look at some of the dirtiest cocktail names and the history behind each.
READ MORE

Words nearby sound barrier

soulless, soult, sound, sound and the fury, the, sound as a bell, sound barrier, sound bite, sound block, sound bow, sound camera, sound check

Idioms for sound barrier

    break the sound barrier, to travel faster than the speed of sound.

Origin of sound barrier

First recorded in 1950–55
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for sound barrier

sound barrier

noun

(not in technical usage) a hypothetical barrier to flight at or above the speed of sound, when a sudden large increase in drag occursAlso called: sonic barrier, transonic barrier
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

Science definitions for sound barrier

sound barrier

The sharp increase in drag experienced by aircraft approaching the speed of sound. Also called sonic barrier
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for sound barrier

sound barrier

The sudden increase in air resistance that occurs when an aircraft approaches the speed of sound. This is also called the sonic barrier.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.