thruster

American  

[thruhs-ter] / ˈθrʌs tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that thrusts.

2. Fox Hunting. a rider who keeps in the front of the field.

3. Aerospace. a small rocket attached to a spacecraft and used to control its attitude or translational motion.

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thruster British  

/ ˈθrʌstə /

noun

1. a person or thing that thrusts

2. Also called: vernier rocket.  a small rocket engine, esp one used to correct the altitude or course of a spacecraft

3. an auxiliary propeller on a ship, capable of acting athwartships

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Etymology

Origin of thruster

First recorded in 1590–1600; thrust + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The quick and dirty alternative would be to “point the thing down and fire the thruster, which would basically produce an instantaneous reentry.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 19, 2025

However, technical issues including helium leaks and thruster malfunctions meant that the Starliner was unsafe for their return.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2025

The problem was probably caused by a thruster that sticks out to one side of the spacecraft, where it is not protected by the sunshield, says Racca.

From Scientific American • Oct. 10, 2023

According to filings, various control systems, including controls for Pamina’s engines and remote controls for its engines and bow thruster, “failed to operate properly.”

From Seattle Times • May 28, 2023

The thruster was so close now, just below and to his left, its roar the loudest thing Mark had ever heard.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner