aerostat

American  

[air-uh-stat] / ˈɛər əˌstæt /

noun

1. any lighter-than-air aircraft, as a balloon or dirigible.

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aerostat British  

/ ˈɛərəˌstæt /

noun

1. a lighter-than-air craft, such as a balloon

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Other Word Forms

• aerostatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of aerostat

First recorded in 1775–85; aero- + -stat

Example Sentences

For instance, at observation stations for remote monitoring devices, like aerostat blimps, troops have to be stationed alongside agents, rather than replacing them, he said, because "they don't know the landmarks."

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2018

One report said: “Adding a smaller agent-deployed aerostat to the Border Patrol technology toolbox represents an inexpensive solution to provide persistent surveillance and communications.”

From Washington Times • Oct. 17, 2017

Biden also solidified a U.S. offer of border-monitoring assistance, including aerostat balloon-mounted cameras and tunnel-detection equipment, along with increased intelligence sharing to give the Turks more visibility on the border.

From Washington Post • Jan. 23, 2016

A frequent source of displeasure was the millions spent until recently on an aerostat balloon and a plane to try to transmit TV signals to Cuba.

From New York Times • Mar. 24, 2015

Ten minutes later the aerostat was released from her moorings and rose swiftly and vertically into the air.

From The Angel of the Revolution A Tale of the Coming Terror by Griffith, George Chetwynd