: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the power plant
also
: aircraft
Examples of airframe in a Sentence
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Military programs, including that for the Lockheed-Martin F-35B, had already contributed significant funds to developing the technology, which has since been modified by Joby and rival Archer for eVTOL implementation, with controls that are far smaller for the compact airframes.
—
Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024
In 2025, Sirius expects to manufacture several full-scale airframes and to put those through more extensive flight testing.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for airframe 
Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 21 Apr. 2024
In 2025, Sirius expects to manufacture several full-scale airframes and to put those through more extensive flight testing.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for airframe
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'airframe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near airframe
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“Airframe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/airframe. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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airframe
noun
air·frame
ˈa(ə)r-ˌfrām 
ˈe(ə)r-
: the structure of an aircraft, rocket vehicle, or missile without the engine and related parts
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