wind tunnel

noun

: a tunnellike passage through which air is blown at a known velocity to investigate air flow around an object (such as an airplane part or model) placed in the passage

Examples of wind tunnel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Since then, Natilus has built subscale prototypes for testing, and in 2024 the company unveiled its Horizon concept for a 200-seat passenger aircraft aimed at competing in the narrow-body market, while continuing subscale and wind tunnel tests. —David Szondy february 10, New Atlas, 10 Feb. 2026

Ward and Ausere said UConn does a great job supporting the club, helping pay for rigs, jumps and wind tunnel time. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 5 Feb. 2026

But the team’s 2025 challenger only spent a few weeks in the wind tunnel at its factory in Grove, UK, last year, before Williams shifted the focus of its design engineers to this season’s car. —Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026

For years, speedskaters, like cyclists, trained in wind tunnels to study that phenomenon. —Howard Fendrich, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for wind tunnel

• bunnell
• funnel
• multifunctional

Kids Definition

wind tunnel

noun

: a passage like a tunnel through which air is blown at a known speed to investigate air flow around an object (as an airplane part or model) placed in the passage