: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the power plant
also
: aircraft
Examples of airframe in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Turbulence can occur when a plane hits a strong air current that pushes or pulls the airframe.
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Angus Whitley / Bloomberg, TIME, 24 May 2024
Military programs, including that for the Lockheed-Martin F-35B, had already contributed significant funds to developing the technology, which has since been modified by Joby and rival Archer for eVTOL implementation, with controls that are far smaller for the compact airframes.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for airframe 
Angus Whitley / Bloomberg, TIME, 24 May 2024
Military programs, including that for the Lockheed-Martin F-35B, had already contributed significant funds to developing the technology, which has since been modified by Joby and rival Archer for eVTOL implementation, with controls that are far smaller for the compact airframes.
—Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for airframe
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airframe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near airframe
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“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airframe. Accessed 30 May. 2024.
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airframe
noun
air·frame
ˈa(ə)r-ˌfrām 
ˈe(ə)r-
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the engine and related parts
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