airframe

noun

Definition of airframenext
as in aircraft

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of airframe The startup developed the aircraft’s airframe, autopilot, perception system, and ground-control software in-house. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 The more engineers push to save weight, Datta notes, the more flexible the airframe becomes, making the wings and other structures more prone to bending, twisting, and vibration. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 Oct. 2026 In addition, the airframe was upgraded for greater stability in flight to prevent the patient from swinging excessively. — New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026 In the event of an emergency, a rocket deploys a nylon parachute from the airframe in seconds, allowing the plane to land safely. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for airframe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airframe
  1. aircraft
  2. airplane
  3. plane
  4. ship
  5. airship
  6. helicopter
Noun
  • Video recorded by people inside their cars captured the terrifying moment the aircraft plunged from the sky, before striking near the roadway and exploding.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Preliminary information suggests the aircraft that crashed is a business jet.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of aircraft
Noun
  • In February 2023, 222 Nicaraguans boarded an airplane in Managua, uncertain what awaited them in the United States.
    — Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The short sortie—which lasted about a mile and reached only about 70 feet in altitude—made the 320-foot-wide behemoth the largest airplane ever to take flight.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of airplane
Noun
  • To avoid potential damage during an unplanned landing, planes will sometimes dump fuel or fly longer to burn it off.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • That changed, because of advances in prediction models and better data collected by satellites and planes.
    — Jessica Meszaros, NPR, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of plane
Noun
  • It was selected as the foundation of Britain’s five-ship Type 31 programme, which is being built at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard in Scotland.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The Navy has used the cessation of hostilities to restock ships with munitions and supplies, completing a significant replenishment of weapons for the USS George Washington last week.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of ship
Noun
  • This means the airship can handle wind speeds of up to 45 km/h, but the company also uses weather forecasts to plan inspection routes that take advantage of wind direction rather than fighting against it.
    — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The stratospheric platform has an auto-navigation system that allows the airship to fly on its own between point A and point B while accounting for factors like local wind conditions, Truong explained.
    — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of airship
Noun
  • Each ship comes with 16 missile launch cells, a Lockheed Martin SPY-7 radar, an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter, and other cutting-edge missile defense capabilities.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Before midday, rescuers in a state helicopter were trying to reach two people stranded in a motor home after trying to escape floodwaters, said Archuleta County Sheriff Mike Le Roux.
    — MEAD GRUVER, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of helicopter

Browse Nearby Words

airflows
airframe
airframes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airframe. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on airframe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about airframe

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of satiate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 SCRABBLE Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All