boundary layer

noun

Definition of boundary layer

: a region of fluid (such as air) moving relative to a nearby surface (such as that of an airplane wing) that is slowed by the viscosity of the fluid and its adhesion to the surface

Examples of boundary layer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The dimples produce a thin, turbulent boundary layer of air that hugs the ball's surface, decreasing the size of wake at the back of the ball. — Jeff Harper, chicagotribune.com, "Best cheap golf balls," 11 Mar. 2021 Her specialty was the field of boundary layer effects on aerospace vehicle configurations at supersonic speeds. — Julia Musto, Fox News, "NASA honors 'Hidden Figure' Mary Jackson during Washington headquarters naming ceremony," 27 Feb. 2021 Scientists explain the increasing evening heat by pointing to the section of the atmosphere called the boundary layer, which sits just above the ground. — Jane Braxton Little, Scientific American, "One Climate-Change Wildfire Risk Lurks in the Dark," 27 Oct. 2020 That smoke starts off in the eddies of what atmospheric scientists call the boundary layer. — Matt Simon, Wired, "A Beautiful Yet Grim Map Shows How Wildfire Smoke Spreads," 31 Aug. 2020 At Dome A, however, Earth's boundary layer is only 45.6 feet high. — Popular Mechanics, "This Is the Single Best Place To Stargaze on Earth," 30 July 2020 When escaping the effects of the boundary layer, location is key. — Popular Mechanics, "This Is the Single Best Place To Stargaze on Earth," 30 July 2020 That boundary layer also carries a fair amount of water vapor — evaporated perspiration. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Ever wonder how plants handle winter weather like wind chill? The answer? It's about water," 31 Jan. 2020 The reason for this difference is what physicists refer to as the boundary layer. — Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, "Ever wonder how plants handle winter weather like wind chill? The answer? It's about water," 31 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boundary layer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Mar 2021

Cite this Entry

“Boundary layer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boundary%20layer. Accessed 20 Apr. 2021.

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