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sound barrier
noun
: a sudden large increase in aerodynamic drag that occurs as the speed of an aircraft approaches the speed of sound
Examples of sound barrier in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The air-tight seal helps save energy and money, but also creates a sound barrier and keeps out bugs, water and dust.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
However, to address the complaints, Marathon has promised to reconfigure the facility to extend an existing sound barrier made of metal and acoustic-dampening material, and switch half the site to liquid immersion by the end of the year.
—Joel Khalili, WIRED, 11 Sep. 2024
Livingston added sound barrier tiles to the recording studio section and bought a couch, dining chairs and a few four-bin record racks to use as a studio desk.
—Amanda Long, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2023
Ward isn’t breaking any sound barriers by any means.
—Khari Nixon, Spin, 28 Aug. 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
1939, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Sound barrier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sound%20barrier. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
sound barrier
noun
: the sudden large increase in resistance that the air offers to an aircraft nearing the speed of sound
More from Merriam-Webster on sound barrier
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sound barrier
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