nacelle

noun

na·​celle nə-ˈsel How to pronounce nacelle (audio)
: a streamlined enclosure (as for an engine) on an aircraft

Examples of nacelle 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.
After take off, the X-plane tilts its rotor nacelles forward for horizontal flight and locks them off as the jet engines take over. David Szondy, New Atlas, 7 Dec. 2024 Jackson has to scale a narrow, metal ladder inside the turbine and pull herself through a hatch at the top to access the turbine’s nacelle, which sits atop the tower and contains the machine’s main parts. Morgan Smith, CNBC, 27 Nov. 2024 Nippon Paint expects the rise of electric vehicles (e.g. carbon fiber) and wind turbines (e.g. formulation for wind turbine nacelles, which house the turbines’ generators and gears) to boost the demand of AOC’s products, Nippon Paint said in a presentation to investors regarding the acquisition. John Kang, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 The nacelle hub height sits at 607 ft (185 m), while the blade diameter is a whopping 1,107 ft (310 m). New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nacelle 

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, small boat, from Late Latin navicella, diminutive of Latin navis ship — more at nave

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nacelle was in 1904

Dictionary Entries Near nacelle

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

nacelle

noun
na·​celle nə-ˈsel How to pronounce nacelle (audio)
: an enclosed shelter on an aircraft for an engine or sometimes for the crew

More from Merriam-Webster on nacelle

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