A power-driven aircraft that is kept buoyant by a body of gas (usually helium, formerly hydrogen) which is lighter than air.
example - Academics are developing ways to replace satellites and mobile telephone masts with solar-powered airships for better and cheaper telecommunications.
An instrument for determining altitude attained, especially a barometric or radar device fitted in an aircraft.
example - On entering the water, I am immediately on an undersea treadmill, legs pumping furiously, pressure gauge falling like the altimeter of a crashing aircraft.
A form of aircraft with freely rotating horizontal blades and a propeller. It differs from a helicopter in that the blades are not powered but rotate in the slipstream, propulsion being by a conventional mounted engine.
example - During the war a tiny number of helicopters and autogiros were employed, sometimes actually seeing action, though success was sporadic at best.
A compartment for the pilot, and sometimes also the crew, in an aircraft or spacecraft.
example - Today, the Air Force involuntarily removes young pilots from the cockpits of manned aircraft for 36 months to ‘fly’ unmanned aerial vehicles.
An instrument containing a magnetized pointer which shows the direction of magnetic north and bearings from it.
example - walkers should be equipped with a map and compass
An instrument for drawing circles and arcs and measuring distances between points, consisting of two arms linked by a movable joint, one arm ending in a point and the other usually carrying a pencil or pen.
example - a regular heptagon cannot be constructed accurately with only ruler and compass
The range or scope of something.
example - the event had political repercussions which are beyond the compass of this book
Pull (someone or something) along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty.
example - we dragged the boat up the beach
synonyms - haul, pull, draw, tug, heave, trail, trawl, tow
(of time) pass slowly and tediously.
example - the day dragged—eventually it was time for bed
synonyms - become tedious, appear to pass slowly, go slowly, move slowly, creep along, limp along, crawl, hang heavy, go at a snail"s pace, wear on, go on too long, go on and on
Move (an image or highlighted text) across a computer screen using a tool such as a mouse.
example - you can move the icons into this group by dragging them in with the mouse
noun
The action of pulling something forcefully or with difficulty.
Clothing more conventionally worn by the opposite sex, especially women"s clothes worn by a man.
example - a fashion show, complete with men in drag
A street or road.
A thing that is pulled along the ground or through water.
example - The car in front loses some of the drag at its rear.
A strong-smelling lure drawn before hounds as a substitute for a fox.
example - If he took the time to investigate this issue further he would find that video evidence is available showing greyhounds enthusiastically following a drag lure.
One of the basic patterns (rudiments) of drumming, consisting of a stroke preceded by two grace notes usually played with the other stick.
short for drag race
example - Having the family around makes for a great time for everyone, but we"re reminded that the extra summer traffic means extra diligence on the highways to and from the drags.
A private vehicle like a stagecoach, drawn by four horses.
A wall or partition designed to inhibit or prevent the spread of fire.
example - In a building, a firewall prevents a fire from quickly burning through, giving firefighter a chance to douse flames, and occupants a chance to find safety.
verb
Protect (a network or system) from unauthorized access with a firewall.
A balloon filled with gas that is lighter than air; especially (now frequently historical) one supporting beneath it a basket for passengers. Often contrasted with hot-air balloon.
A type of aircraft which derives both lift and propulsion from one or more sets of horizontally revolving overhead rotors. It is capable of moving vertically and horizontally, the direction of motion being controlled by the pitch of the rotor blades.
example - One of the helicopter"s rotor blades had smashed into the crag, showering the rescuers with fragments of rock.
verb
Transport by helicopter.
example - he was helicoptered out with a bleeding ulcer
The branch of science and technology concerned with the conveyance of liquids through pipes and channels, especially as a source of mechanical force or control.
example - The first volume covered dynamics, mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, aerostatics, and pneumatics.
A bright light on an aircraft that is switched on prior to landing.
example - The light increased intensity and became exceptionally bright like aircraft landing lights, but it was curious because it was moving way too fast and way too high to be a commercial airliner.
The foremost edge of an aerofoil, especially a wing or propeller blade.
example - Their lengthened nacelles overlapped the leading edge of the wing and were equipped with a streamlined canopy and cabin in which a single gunner was installed.
The forefront or vanguard, especially of technological development.
example - leading-edge research
The part of a pulse in which the amplitude increases.
A substance used as a preparatory coat on wood, metal, or canvas, especially to prevent the absorption of subsequent layers of paint or the development of rust.
example - apply three coats of primer
A cap or cylinder containing a compound which responds to friction or an electrical impulse and ignites the charge in a cartridge or explosive.
example - the nitro-cellulose is ignited by the spark that comes from the primer
A small pump for pumping fuel to prime an internal combustion engine, especially in an aircraft.
example - no more than four pumps of the primer usually suffice
A molecule that serves as a starting material for a polymerization process.
example - the duplex RNA primer cannot initiate DNA replication
A hub with a number of radiating aerofoils that is rotated in an approximately horizontal plane to provide the lift for a helicopter or other rotary wing aircraft.
example - The aircraft featured two large rotors located in nacelles on the ends of its wings linked to an air-cooled Daimler Benz 600 engine in the fuselage.
The rotating assembly in a turbine.
example - Should they malfunction or prove insufficient to slow the rotor in high winds, a large disk brake mounted on the generator shaft can smoothly bring the turbine to a halt.
A large eddy in which the air circulates about a horizontal axis, especially in the lee of a mountain.
A short, slender, sharp-pointed metal pin with a raised helical thread running round it and a slotted head, used to join things together by being rotated so that it pierces wood or other material and is held tightly in place.
example - The logs, the wood flooring, the cabinets, all of the materials down to the nails and screws which hold it together, were donated or purchased with donated funds.
synonyms - bolt, fastener
An act of turning a screw or other object having a thread.
The thin layer of tissue forming the natural outer covering of the body of a person or animal.
example - I use body lotion to keep my skin supple
synonyms - epidermis, dermis
The peel or outer layer of certain fruits or vegetables.
example - potatoes roasted in their skins
synonyms - peel, rind, outside
A customized graphic user interface for an application or operating system.
example - They swapped modding techniques and hundreds of custom skins over the website message board.
A skinhead.
(especially in jazz) a drum or drum head.
Relating to or denoting pornographic literature or films.
A card game in which each player has one card which they bet will not be the first to be matched by a card dealt from the pack.
A unit into which an Aboriginal people is divided, typically on the basis of descent, each skin being associated with a totemic bird, animal, or insect.
example - Marriage or sexual relationships with any member of the other seven "skins" are regarded as improper.
verb
Remove the skin from (an animal or a fruit or vegetable)
An aeroplane whose undercarriage includes a tailwheel or tail skid rather than a nose wheel.
example - The usual places for rust are at the rear of the fuselage in the taildraggers and inside the door frames and in the strut carry-through in the belly of nosedraggers.
A wheel supporting the tail of an aircraft while on the ground.
example - You"re looking for relative movement between the fuselage and the spring, between the spring and the tailwheel, and between the tailwheel and the wheel itself.
A reverse fault of low angle, with older strata displaced horizontally over newer.
example - It is not known whether the thrusts and reverse faults represent reactivated extensional basement structures or formed entirely during basin inversion.
An adjustable tab or aerofoil attached to a control surface, used to trim an aircraft in flight.
example - Such things as the wing tips, ailerons, trimming tabs, elevator, seats, berths and landing gear may be exchanged between one plane and another.
An adjustable flap fitted to the trailing edge of a rudder or keel, used to adjust steering, or fitted horizontally as one of a pair on the stern and used to trim a boat at speed.
example - Standard equipment includes hydraulic steering and trim tabs and the 320 responds quickly.
A device for controlling the passage of fluid or air through a pipe, duct, etc., especially an automatic device allowing movement in one direction only.
example - a valve shuts off the flow from the boiler when the water is hot enough
synonyms - vent, vent hole, way out, exit, egress
Each of the halves of the hinged shell of a bivalve mollusc or brachiopod, or of the parts of the compound shell of a barnacle.
example - The brachiopods from the limestone unit are mostly preserved as shells, most with valves conjoined.
The surface density of cloth, used as a measure of its quality.
example - Keep two weights of press cloths on hand and use them appropriately.
verb
Hold (something) down by placing a heavy object on top of it.
example - a mug half filled with coffee weighted down a stack of papers
Attribute importance or value to.
example - speaking, reading, and writing should be weighted equally in the assessment
synonyms - bring attention to, call attention to, draw attention to, focus attention on, highlight, point up, spotlight, foreground, play up, make a point of
Assign a handicap weight to (a horse).
example - A total of 267 entries have been weighted for the Melbourne Cup, and 279 for the Caulfield Cup.
Treat (a fabric) with a mineral to make it seem thicker and heavier.
(In a spinning mule) a large wheel from which drive is transmitted to the spindles by means of a belt or band around its rim, and which also acts as a flywheel.
(in a bird) a modified forelimb that bears large feathers and is used for flying.
example - Besides having forelimbs that resemble the wings of modern birds, the animal sported long feathers from thigh to foot on each hind limb.
synonyms - pinion, van
A rigid horizontal structure that projects from both sides of an aircraft and supports it in the air.
example - The single-seat research aircraft had a monocoque aluminum fuselage with a wood wing.
A raised part of the body of a car or other vehicle above the wheel.
example - T1 will see readily identifiable versions of everyday saloon cars visually spectacularly modified with big flared wheel arches, wings and bumpers.
A part of a large building, especially one that projects from the main part.
example - a maternity wing
synonyms - part, section, side
A group within a political party or other organization having particular views or a particular function.
example - a candidate from the liberal wing of the party
The sides of a theatre stage out of view of the audience.
example - He didn"t go on stage, though, but sang from the wings while Beesley mimed onstage.
(in soccer, rugby, and hockey) the part of the field close to the sidelines.
example - Saints are set to switch Darren Albert from the wing to full-back to offset the absence of Paul Wellens, but Millward also has the option of Anthony Stewart and Sean Hoppe.
A lateral part or projection of an organ or structure.
example - The posterior aspect of the lateral pterygoid plate may be joined to the angular spine of the greater wing by a pterygopetrosal ligament that may calcify.
An air force unit of several squadrons or groups.
example - He has commanded a fighter squadron, two fighter wings, a numbered Air Force and two major commands.
A flock of plovers (birds)
example - some sportsmen make no scruple about firing into the thick of a wing of plover
verb
Travel on wings or by aircraft; fly.
example - George satisfied his keen urge to fly by winging homewards with the Royal Air Force
synonyms - fly, glide, soar
Shoot (a bird) in the wing, so as to prevent flight without causing death.
example - one bird was winged for every bird killed
Speak or act without preparation; improvise.
synonyms - improvise, play it by ear, extemporize, ad lib
The tip of the wing of an aircraft or of a bird or other flying animal.
example - We flew through overcasts in formation, wing tip to wing tip, coming out on top to see a beautiful white blanket brightened by the blazing sun.
A shoe with a toecap having a backward-extending point and curving sides, and leather that is perforated in a standard pattern.
example - I watched, in mute fascination, as the black wingtip shoe sliced through the air.
A large German dirigible airship of the early 20th century, long and cylindrical in shape and with a rigid framework. Zeppelins were used during the First World War for reconnaissance and bombing, and after the war as passenger transports until the 1930s.
example - Relics from a golden age of flight when Zeppelins and airships ruled the skies have been on sale at a Swindon auction house.