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

Teams of experts test skis and clothing in wind tunnels to maximize the aerodynamics at play long before jumpers try to achieve the perfect takeoff, flying form and landing. —Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

There was a wind tunnel at Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, where Lundell is a professor, but it was overbooked, and waiting for real storms was slow. —Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026

Once the team settled on a final prototype, Salomon, with support from Swiss Side, conducted running economy tests with elite athletes in a large-scale wind tunnel. —Cory Smith, Outside, 8 Jan. 2026

While Miami won’t be playing in a wind tunnel because this game is at AT&T Stadium in Texas for the Cotton Bowl, the Hurricanes don’t get a break. —Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025

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