pitot tube

noun, often capitalized P

pi·tot tube | \ ˈpē-ˌtō-

Definition of pitot tube

1 : a device that consists of a tube having a short right-angled bend which is placed vertically in a moving body of fluid (such as air) with the mouth of the bent part directed upstream and that is used with a manometer to measure the velocity of fluid flow

2 : pitot-static tube

Examples of pitot tube in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The pitot tube’s measurements can show if the plane is flying fast enough to be stable, or if the plane is flying too slow, putting it at risk of stalling. — Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2020 Critics say the planemaker and airline didn’t take the pitot tubes problems seriously enough. — Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2019 Modern jets have several devices called pitot tubes and computers that process information about speed, heading, nose angle, altitude and other information. — Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2019 An American mechanic discovered a loose pitot tube and an ADM obstructed by a dark Styrofoam-type material. — Dawn Gilbertson, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2019 The case has led to new air safety rules regarding speed sensors known as pitot tubes. — Washington Post, 5 Sep. 2019 Problems with malfunctioning pitot tubes—airspeed sensors located under the noses of aircraft—have been well documented over the years and resulted in a number of high-profile passenger-aircraft accidents. — Robert Wall, WSJ, 30 Oct. 2018 The cause is the fact that the plane's pitot tubes, externally mounted sensors that determine air speed, have iced over, so the human pilots will now have to fly the plane by hand. — Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics, 6 Dec. 2011 Another of the pitot tubes begins to function once more. — Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics, 6 Dec. 2011 See More

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

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Dictionary Entries Near pitot tube

pitot-static tube

pitot tube

pit-pair

Statistics for pitot tube

Cite this Entry

“Pitot tube.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitot%20tube. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for pitot tube

pitot tube

noun, often capitalized P

pi·tot tube | \ ˌpē-ˌtō-

Medical Definition of pitot tube

: a device that consists of a tube having a short right-angled bend which is placed vertically in a moving body of fluid with the mouth of the bent part directed upstream and that is used with a manometer to measure the velocity of fluid flow (as in a blood vessel)