cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

1

a

: a pit or enclosure for cockfights

b

: a place noted for especially bloody, violent, or long-continued conflict

2

obsolete : the pit of a theater

3

: a compartment in a sailing warship used as quarters for junior officers and for treatment of the wounded in an engagement

4

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (such as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven see airplane illustration

Examples of cockpit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alpine The compressed hydrogen is stored in three regulation-grade composite tanks spread to the sides and rear of the cockpit in sealed and ventilated compartments. —New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2024

There were reports of smoke in the cockpit before the Airbus 321 was able to make an emergency landing at Harry Reid International Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 6 Oct. 2024

Using the Pros By investigating what pilots needed to operate safely and comfortably in the cockpit, and constantly asking them for improvements and ideas, Bose was able to develop and trickle down what remain the best noise-canceling algorithms WIRED has ever tested. —Parker Hall, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024

The wraparound cockpit screens make a lot of information available, but there’s one gotcha. —James Morris, Fortune Europe, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cockpit

• cockpit voice recorder

Kids Definition

cockpit

noun

cock·​pit ˈkäk-ˌpit 

: a space or compartment in a usually small vehicle (as a boat, airplane, or automobile) from which it is steered, piloted, or driven