aircraft

[ air-kraft, -krahft ]

noun

, plural air·craft.

1. any machine supported for flight in the air by buoyancy or by the dynamic action of air on its surfaces, especially powered airplanes, gliders, and helicopters.

aircraft

/ ˈɛəˌkrɑːft /

noun

1. any machine capable of flying by means of buoyancy or aerodynamic forces, such as a glider, helicopter, or aeroplane

Word History and Origins

Origin of aircraft¹

First recorded in 1840–50; air ¹ + craft

Example Sentences

Aircraft from JetBlue, Spirit and American Airlines were all hit by bullets on Monday after flying to the capital, Port-au-Prince.

From BBC

Tweaking the flight paths of a handful of aircraft could reduce contrail warming by more than half by 2040, at a cost of less than £4 per flight.

From BBC

The winds were so fierce that retardant-dropping aircraft were grounded, at least temporarily.

From Los Angeles Times

It is the second time in three weeks that aircraft have been shot at over the Haitian capital.

From BBC

Unverified video of the incident shared on social media appeared to show several bullet holes on the inside of the aircraft, where the crew sit during take-off and landing.

From BBC

Related Words

• airliner
• balloon
• chopper
• helicopter
• jet