wind tunnel
[wind]
- a tubular chamber or structure in which a steady current of air can be maintained at a controlled velocity, equipped with devices for measuring and recording forces and moments on scale models of complete aircraft or of their parts or, sometimes, on full-scale aircraft or their parts.
Show More
Origin of wind tunnel
An Americanism dating back to 1910–15
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for wind tunnel
Historical Examples of wind tunnel
And when the last bolt had struck, the tide turned and rolled back down the wind-tunnel, a blinding river of living light.
A World is BornLeigh Douglass Brackett
The best degree of fineness for any given velocity is found by means of wind-tunnel research.
The Aeroplane SpeaksH. Barber
The best angles of incidence for these varying factors are found by means of wind-tunnel research and practical trial and error.
The Aeroplane SpeaksH. Barber
Dio staggered out of the wind-tunnel and sagged down beside Jill.
A World is BornLeigh Douglass Brackett
wind tunnel
- a chamber for testing the aerodynamic properties of aircraft, aerofoils, etc, in which a current of air can be maintained at a constant velocity
Show More
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
wind tunnel
- A chamber through which air is blown at controlled speeds to simulate the motion of objects placed in the chamber through the air, used to study the aerodynamic properties of objects such as automobiles, airplanes, and missiles.
Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.