hypersonic

adjective hy·per·son·ic \ ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-nik \

Updated on: 14 May 2018

Definition of hypersonic

1 : of or relating to speed five or more times that of sound in air — compare sonic

2 : moving, capable of moving, or utilizing air currents that move at hypersonic speed

hypersonic wind tunnel

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hypersonically

play \ˌhī-pər-ˈsä-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Recent Examples of hypersonic from the Web

Simultaneously, China is pursuing advanced capabilities (e.g., hypersonic missiles) which the United States has no current defense against.

— christopher bodeen, Fox News, "Recent developments surrounding the South China Sea," 8 May 2018
Russia's new hypersonic missile, dubbed the Kinzhal, was carried by two MiG-31K jets during a rehearsal last week.

— brad lendon, CNN, "Weapons to watch in Russia's Victory Day parade," 8 May 2018
In this photo made from the footage taken from Russian Defense Ministry official web site on Sunday, March 11, 2018, a Russia’s Kinzhal hypersonic missile flies during a test in southern Russia.

— Washington Post, "Russian military tests nuclear-capable hypersonic missile," 12 Mar. 2018
Putin presses the launch button before the hypersonic gliders even hit their targets.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "What Putin Would Nuke," 5 Mar. 2018
The United States possesses limited ability to counter cruise missiles, let alone hypersonic ones.

— author: paul sonne, Anchorage Daily News, "Pentagon looks to adjust missile defense policy to include threats from Russia, China," 2 Mar. 2018
The earnings come less than a week after the U.S. Air Force selected Lockheed Martin to develop and a hypersonic cruise missile that can travel five times the speed of sound.

— marco santana, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Lockheed Martin profits jump 41 percent over last year," 24 Apr. 2018
A century later in 2013, a 10-ton, 49-foot-wide meteor streaked over Russia's Ural Mountains at hypersonic speeds, shattering windows and injuring 1,100 people, Fox News reported.

— the washington post, OregonLive.com, "There's a small chance an asteroid will smack into Earth in 2135; NASA is working on a plan," 21 Mar. 2018
In this video grab provided by RU-RTR Russian television via AP television on Thursday, March 1, 2018, a computer simulation shows the Avangard hypersonic vehicle maneuvering to bypass missile defenses en route to target.

— howard cohen, miamiherald, "Why does Russia have Florida on its nuclear map? | Miami Herald," 1 Mar. 2018

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