transonic

American  

[tran-son-ik] / trænˈsɒn ɪk /

adjective

Chiefly Aeronautics.

1. close to the speed of propagation of sound; moving at 700–780 miles per hour (1127–1255 km/h) at sea level.

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transonic British  

/ trænˈsɒnɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to conditions when travelling at or near the speed of sound

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transonic Scientific  

/ trăn-sŏn′ĭk /

1. Relating to or capable of speeds at or near the speed of sound (at or approaching Mach 1) or to aerodynamic conditions for bodies travelling at such speeds.

2. Compare hypersonic subsonic supersonic

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Etymology

Origin of transonic

First recorded in 1940–45; trans- + sonic

Example Sentences

His research lies in the field of viscous gas dynamics, or the study of how gases move around physical objects – like missiles and jets - during transonic and supersonic flights.

From Reuters • May 18, 2023

That way, the pilot could anticipate transonic instability.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 13, 2018

Two other at-risk facilities are the 20-foot vertical spin tunnel and 16-foot transonic dynamics tunnel located next door at Langley Air Force Base, said Weiser.

From Washington Times • Sep. 30, 2017

After establishing herself in the 1950s, she quickly became known for her study of transonic flow, or the behavior of air when an object such as a plane approaches the speed of sound.

From Washington Post • Aug. 14, 2017

But even with the errors, the machines processed the transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic flows and trajectory analyses in a way that surpassed the upper limits of human ability.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly