chandelle

noun

chan·delle shan-ˈdel

shäⁿ-

: an abrupt climbing turn of an airplane in which the momentum of the plane is used to attain a higher rate of climb

chandelle intransitive verb

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, candle

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of chandelle was in 1918

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Chandelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chandelle. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

mercurial

Listen to the pronunciation of mercurial

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Using Bullet Points ( • )

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

Popular

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE