zeppelin

noun

zep·​pe·​lin ˈze-p(ə-)lən How to pronounce zeppelin (audio)
: a rigid airship consisting of a cylindrical trussed and covered frame supported by internal gas cells
broadly : airship

Illustration of zeppelin

Illustration of zeppelin

Examples of zeppelin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If this inner arrangement seems botanical, the exterior suggests a zeppelin as much as a seed. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024 Buy Now: 2021 zeppelin speaker $799 The 2021 Zeppelin is the most recent edition of one of the most popular Bowers & Wilkins speakers, whose first iteration was released all the way back in 2001. Anna Tingley, Variety, 4 Dec. 2023 An Airship Resurgence Pathfinder 1 could herald a new era for zeppelins A New Way to Speed Up Computing Blue microLEDs bring optical fiber to the processor. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Dec. 2022 An Airship Resurgence Pathfinder 1 could herald a new era for zeppelins A New Way to Speed Up Computing Blue microLEDs bring optical fiber to the processor. IEEE Spectrum, 28 Dec. 2022 Randy gets a toy model zeppelin for Christmas. Marc Bona, cleveland, 21 Dec. 2021 Until the space shields are incorporated into an official planet-hunting mission, though, Cash is determined to test them by any means necessary — whether they’re mounted on the crest of a rocky peak, dangling from a high-altitude balloon or even suspended from a floating zeppelin. Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2016 This game fits the Indiana Jones and The Mummy mold with hidden dinosaurs, massive zeppelin fleets and heroes quietly battling villains in the unexplored places of the earth. Rob Wieland, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2021 At night, when the zeppelin reached the right spot in the sky, a telescope on the ground could begin to explore the neighborhood of a target star. Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zeppelin.' 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

Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zeppelin was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near zeppelin

Cite this Entry

“Zeppelin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zeppelin. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

zeppelin

noun
zep·​pe·​lin ˈzep-(ə-)lən How to pronounce zeppelin (audio)
: a long cylindrical passenger balloon that has a metal frame and is driven through the air by engines carried on its underside

Biographical Definition

Zeppelin

biographical name

Zep·​pe·​lin ˌtse-pə-ˈlēn How to pronounce Zeppelin (audio)
ˈze-p(ə-)lən
Ferdinand (Adolf August Heinrich) 1838–1917 Graf von Zeppelin German general and aeronaut

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