terminal velocity

noun

1. Physics.
   1. the velocity at which a falling body moves through a medium, as air, when the force of resistance of the medium is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force of gravity.
   2. the maximum velocity of a body falling through a viscous fluid.
2. Rocketry, Ballistics.
   1. the greatest speed that a rocket, missile, etc., attains after burnout or after leaving the barrel of a gun.
   2. the speed of a missile or projectile on impact with its target.

terminal velocity

noun

1. the constant maximum velocity reached by a body falling under gravity through a fluid, esp the atmosphere
2. the velocity of a missile or projectile when it reaches its target
3. the maximum velocity attained by a rocket, missile, or shell flying in a parabolic flight path
4. the maximum velocity that an aircraft can attain, as determined by its total drag

Example Sentences

Ball and closely-prisoned man plummeted downward; slowing abruptly, with a horrible deceleration, to terminal velocity.

From Project Gutenberg

But the terminal velocity of an airplane is a lot more than that.

From Project Gutenberg

These were to demonstrate that the ship would dive to terminal velocity.

From Project Gutenberg

I went out to do the terminal-velocity dive with the nine-g pull-out.

From Project Gutenberg

Then I would do the grand dive of ten thousand feet to terminal velocity and pull out to nine g.

From Project Gutenberg