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

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

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

From BBC

He was told an aircraft dropped water or fire retardant on the hillside.

From Los Angeles Times

The blaze caused its greatest devastation on Wednesday, when the powerful winds prevented aircraft from dropping fire-retardent chemicals as firefighters struggled to combat the flames on rugged steep ground amid periodic shortages of water.

From Los Angeles Times

They flew along a route that became known as the Donegal corridor, a shortcut that linked Lough Erne with the Atlantic Ocean and extended the range of the aircraft.

From BBC

Related Words

• airliner
• balloon
• chopper
• helicopter
• jet