ground speed

noun

: the speed (as of an airplane) with relation to the ground compare airspeed

Examples of ground speed 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.
Certain of them, however, are outfitted with center seconds, which makes timing—whether for calculating ground speed, pulse taking, or any other task common in the military—much easier. Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 13 June 2024 The ship’s over ground speed was recorded at just under 8 mph, Muise said Wednesday evening. Ray Sanchez, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024 United Airlines flight 64 from Newark to Lisbon, which departed at 8:35 p.m. Saturday, reached a ground speed of 835 mph just off the East Coast, according to Flight Aware, which would rank among the highest on record. Jason Samenow, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 The aircraft made a slight right turn, turning south of the roadway, and the data then shows a gradual descent and increasing ground speed. Adam Beam, Chinedu Asadu and Stefanie Dazio, Quartz, 11 Feb. 2024 Planes were checking in with air traffic control to learn their ground speed. Michael S. Rosenwald, BostonGlobe.com, 25 May 2023 Its ground speed is continuously adjustable between a crawl and a brisk pace. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 12 May 2023 The in-flight data recorder (IFR) records the status of the aircraft, including altitude, heading, ground speed, rate of climb, and cabin pressurization. Popular Mechanics, 26 Apr. 2023 The key to it all is the difference between relative air speed and actual ground speed. Eric Wolff, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2010

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground speed was in 1917

Dictionary Entries Near ground speed

Cite this Entry

“Ground speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20speed. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!