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

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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, "Airspeed Sensors Emerge as Initial Focus in Lion Air Crash," 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, "What Really Happened Aboard Air France 447," 6 Dec. 2011 Another of the pitot tubes begins to function once more. — Jeff Wise, Popular Mechanics, "What Really Happened Aboard Air France 447," 6 Dec. 2011 Ice accumulation can wreak havoc inside modern jet engines or on the tips of airspeed-measuring devices extending from the noses of jets, called pitot tubes. — Andy Pasztor, WSJ, "Efforts to Tackle Icing Problems on Planes Face Setback," 2 July 2017

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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The first known use of pitot tube was in 1852

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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)