often capitalized P
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
Examples of pitot tube in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Onboard sensors sample the air through pitot tubes, detecting bad weather.
—
Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025
Problems with pitot tubes had affected Airbus aircraft in the past, but the company had not corrected the problem.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 17 Apr. 2023
The angle-of-attack sensors look like wind vanes, whereas the pitot tubes look like, well, tubes.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Apr. 2019
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
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Tim Stevens, ArsTechnica, 8 Apr. 2025
Problems with pitot tubes had affected Airbus aircraft in the past, but the company had not corrected the problem.
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, 17 Apr. 2023
The angle-of-attack sensors look like wind vanes, whereas the pitot tubes look like, well, tubes.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Apr. 2019
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
Cite this Entry
“Pitot tube.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitot%20tube. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pitot tube
noun
pi·tot tube
ˌpē-ˌtō- 
often capitalized P
: 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)
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