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 At the center of the turbines are the nacelles, weighing more than 500 tons and containing the generators that convert the wind’s power into electricity. Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2024 The cool, glowing-blue circular deflector dish, the streamlined nacelles, and the tapered nacelle supports all make the ship look more futuristic and elegant, enhancing the attractive profile of the original design. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 23 Apr. 2023 The plane apparently has a defect that could cause an engine nacelle to break up. Wes Davis, The Verge, 6 Jan. 2024 The nacelles that house the generator for each wind turbine are there, too. Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023 Tower sections, blades and nacelles are expected to begin arriving in New London as early as this spring. Jennifer McDermott, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023 On one of these retrofits, each of the two nacelles would house an electric motor of about a megawatt as well as a turbine engine. Amy Jankovsky, IEEE Spectrum, 30 Nov. 2023 The generator weighs 40 percent less than conventional units, and the nacelle—the housing for the generator and other machinery—is 25 percent smaller. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Sep. 2023 Once elevated, the vessel becomes a platform where an immense crane, capable of lifting more than 1,600 tons, can install the tower sections, nacelle, and blades for each turbine. Thomas Lee, BostonGlobe.com, 19 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nacelle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 19 Mar. 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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