control surface

noun

: a movable airfoil designed to change the attitude of an aircraft

Examples of control surface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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An onboard computer constantly adjusts the foil angles to hold a smooth ride even in choppy conditions using the same basic principle as the control surfaces on a fighter jet. Omar Kardoudi april 09, New Atlas, 9 Apr. 2026 This unit links the guidance computer to the missile’s control surfaces, enabling precise maneuvering in flight. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026 This process used to require a $1,000 hardware control surface and a professional digital audio workstation program. Jamie Lendino, PC Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026 All four corners of the airplane and flight control surfaces have been identified in the wreckage and the debris field. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for control surface

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of control surface was in 1910

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Control surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/control%20surface. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

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