propellant

adjective pro·pel·lant \ prə-ˈpe-lənt \

variants: or less commonly propellent

|Updated on: 7 Aug 2018

Definition of propellant

: capable of propelling

Recent Examples of propellant from the Web

Luigi T. De Luca, an Italian academic and a leading expert in solid propellant rockets, said in an email.

— hiroko tabuchi, New York Times, "A Cheaper Airbag, and Takata’s Road to a Deadly Crisis," 26 Aug. 2016

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

First Known Use of propellant

1644

in the meaning defined above

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propellant

noun

variants: or less commonly propellent

Definition of propellant

: something that propels: such as

a : an explosive for propelling projectiles

b : fuel plus oxidizer used by a rocket engine

c : a gas kept under pressure in a bottle or can for expelling the contents when the pressure is released

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Recent Examples of propellant from the Web

At the end of 2010, one Proton plunged into the ocean because too much propellant had been mistakenly loaded into its upper stage.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "Russia’s Proton rocket, which predates Apollo, will finally stop flying," 25 June 2018
On the Space Shuttle, for instance, propellant was loaded many hours before crew boarded the vehicle.

— loren grush, The Verge, "SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 rocket still needs a key update before it can fly astronauts," 24 May 2018
During the space shuttle era, astronauts boarded the shuttle after propellants were loaded.

— samantha masunaga, latimes.com, "SpaceX's controversial rocket fueling procedure appears 'viable,' says NASA safety advisory panel," 17 May 2018
But at those extreme temperatures, the propellant would have to be loaded just before takeoff, while astronauts are aboard.

— washington post, BostonGlobe.com, "NASA advisers see safety risks in SpaceX’s proposed fuel technology," 6 May 2018
But his nerves are still a propellant for his work ethic.

— belinda luscombe, Time, "How Bo Burnham Turns Anxiety Into a Work of Art," 12 July 2018
Most major rockets rely on engines that run on cold liquid propellants, like cryogenic oxygen and hydrogen.

— loren grush, The Verge, "Europe will fire its record-setting big solid rocket motor this week," 11 July 2018
During the last decade, the space technology program has supported research into optical communications for communicating with deep space probes, environmental propellants, and nuclear thermal propulsion, among many other areas.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "In response to Trump budget, NASA ending separate technology plan," 1 Mar. 2018
Unlike conventional rockets that burn fuel to create thrust, the atomic system uses the reactor to heat a propellant such as liquid hydrogen, which then expands through a nozzle to power the craft.

— stephen stapczynski, latimes.com, "NASA is bringing back Cold War-era atomic rockets to get to Mars," 15 Feb. 2018

First Known Use of propellant

1654

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

PROPELLANT Defined for English Language Learners

propellant

noun

Definition of propellant for English Language Learners

: a gas under pressure in a can that is used to spray out the contents when the pressure is released
: a fuel or an explosive substance that is used to make something (such as a rocket) go forward