wind tunnel

American  

[wind] / wɪnd /

noun

Aeronautics.

1. 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.

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wind tunnel British  

/ wɪnd /

noun

1. a chamber for testing the aerodynamic properties of aircraft, aerofoils, etc, in which a current of air can be maintained at a constant velocity

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wind tunnel Scientific  

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of wind tunnel

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

They built their own wind tunnel in the bike shop, and learned that the hard problem wasn’t engine power but control.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

That geography turns the valley into a natural wind tunnel.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

A brand new factory, including a state-of-the-art wind tunnel and driver-in-the-loop simulator.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Now that we’re through the wind tunnel of adolescence, I’m happy to share them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

One test required Mary to clamber onto the catwalk of the wind tunnel, measuring how rivets disrupted the airflow over a particular model.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly