thruster

[ thruhs-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that thrusts.
2. Fox Hunting. a rider who keeps in the front of the field.
3. Aerospace. a small rocket attached to a spacecraft and used to control its attitude or translational motion.

thruster

/ ˈθrʌstə /

noun

1. a person or thing that thrusts
2. Also calledvernier rocket a small rocket engine, esp one used to correct the altitude or course of a spacecraft
3. an auxiliary propeller on a ship, capable of acting athwartships

Word History and Origins

Origin of thruster¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; thrust + -er ¹

Example Sentences

They might get more interesting again if the young thruster Lennon Miller keeps progressing so rapidly.

From BBC

Almost certainly, it was commanded to fire its thrusters in the mid-1970s to take it westwards.

From BBC

“We chose the second option. We reduced the number of thrusters from 16 to eight and pressure tanks and batteries were reduced from two to one.”

From BBC

During the flight it experienced a number of problems, including leaks of helium - which is used in its propulsion system - and issues with several of its thrusters.

From BBC

A dive log book recorded 118 technical faults, ranging from thrusters failing, to batteries dying - and once the front dome of the sub fell off.

From BBC