airframe

noun

air·​frame ˈer-ˌfrām How to pronounce airframe (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As for the 787s that had already been delivered previously with these out-of-conformance gaps and are today flying around the world — about 980 jets — Boeing studied whether there is a long-term risk that their airframes could age more quickly and potentially fail. Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 10 Apr. 2024 List price for a new airframe is around $78 million. Doug Gollan, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024 The Boeing 737 was 31 years old, which is considered by experts to be an older airframe, though that’s not unusual for cargo flights. Siarhei Satsiuk, Los Angeles Times, 25 Nov. 2024 Charred, mangled wires and an ashy airframe the size of a large snow tire was all that remained of the weapon, which can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. Samya Kullab and Elise Morton The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for airframe 

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of airframe was in 1930

Dictionary Entries Near airframe

Cite this Entry

“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airframe. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

airframe

noun
air·​frame ˈa(ə)r-ˌfrām How to pronounce airframe (audio)
ˈe(ə)r-
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the engine and related parts

More from Merriam-Webster on airframe

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