airfoil
noun
air·foil
ˈer-ˌfȯi(-ə)l 
: a body (such as an airplane wing or propeller blade) designed to provide a desired reaction force when in motion relative to the surrounding air
Examples of airfoil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lower pressure is created on the top of the airfoil compared to the pressure on the bottom.
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Craig Merrett, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
This differs substantially from conventional aircraft, which rely on airfoils—structures designed to generate lift.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2023
The center of pressure for an airfoil, however, is locked in place and does not change with the angle of attack.
—Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
This simulation, generated using Longhorn at the Texas Advanced Computing Center, shows the turbulence that results as water flows past an airfoil acting as a ship’s hull.
—Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2017
That was immediately followed by a quick clip of the rapper falling off an airfoil, and then more golf.
—USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
Swartzlander's lightfoil is actually quite like an airfoil, with one side rounded and the other flat.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2010
In the bowing airfoil shape, air moving over the longer, curved side moves faster than air flowing by the other side, generating lift.
—Caleb Paine, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2021
The airfoil — that web of fabric between the legs of a wing-suited birdman — sometimes provides lift but mostly delays the fall.
—James McCommons, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2015
Craig Merrett, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2024
This differs substantially from conventional aircraft, which rely on airfoils—structures designed to generate lift.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2023
The center of pressure for an airfoil, however, is locked in place and does not change with the angle of attack.
—Sarah Wells, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
This simulation, generated using Longhorn at the Texas Advanced Computing Center, shows the turbulence that results as water flows past an airfoil acting as a ship’s hull.
—Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2017
That was immediately followed by a quick clip of the rapper falling off an airfoil, and then more golf.
—USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
Swartzlander's lightfoil is actually quite like an airfoil, with one side rounded and the other flat.
—Andrew Moseman, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2010
In the bowing airfoil shape, air moving over the longer, curved side moves faster than air flowing by the other side, generating lift.
—Caleb Paine, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2021
The airfoil — that web of fabric between the legs of a wing-suited birdman — sometimes provides lift but mostly delays the fall.
—James McCommons, Discover Magazine, 28 May 2015
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airfoil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Airfoil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airfoil. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
airfoil
noun
air·foil
-ˌfȯil
: an airplane surface (as a wing or rudder) designed to produce reaction from the air through which it moves
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