thruster

noun

thrust·​er ˈthrə-stər 

variants or less commonly thrustor

: one that thrusts

especially : an engine (such as a jet engine) that develops thrust by expelling a jet of fluid or a stream of particles

Examples of thruster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That result gives engineers more data for understanding how zinc behaves after leaving the thruster. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

Shin said that at no time does the flight data recorder indicate the pilots engaged speed brakes or reverse thrusters. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

The mission was made even more complicated in April 2024, when a solar panel issue reduced the available power for MTM's electric thrusters. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Overheating electronics contributed to the failure of two of the craft's three reaction wheels, compounded by an unrelated malfunction in its thruster system. — David Szondy august 20, New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for thruster

• bluster
• buster
• cluster
• duster
• juster
• luster
• lustre
• maister
• muster
• trustor
• adjuster
• baluster

Kids Definition

thruster

noun

thrust·​er ˈthrəs-tər 

: one that thrusts

especially : an engine that produces thrust by discharging a jet of fluid or a stream of particles