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

Their work is being supported from the air by a large fleet of state-owned and contractor fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, providing critical Air Attack retardant and water drops with pinpoint accuracy.

From Popular-Science

As part of her work, she watched videos taken by drone aircraft flying above pods of surfacing whales.

From Science News For Students

If development of the concepts goes to plan, Airbus will officially kick off its ZEROe aircraft program by 2025, with a full-scale prototype arriving in the latter half of this decade.

From Fortune

This whole system is exacerbated by the fact that it’s not just contracts for privately owned aircraft.

From ProPublica

Then a Navy recruiter asked me to take a nuclear-based test – and I’m a really good test taker – so I passed and worked as a nuclear reactor operator on a few different aircraft carriers.

From Washington Blade

The assessment of the strikes comes in real-time video from the aircraft.

From The Daily Beast

Each CAP, also known as an “orbit,” consists on four aircraft.

From The Daily Beast

Typically, aircraft will work in pairs where the flight lead will make an initial pass to mark a target with rockets.

From The Daily Beast

“Lack of forward firing ordnance in a CAS supporting aircraft is a major handicap,” he added.

From The Daily Beast

Some of the items Indonesian military aircraft saw were long yellow tubes.

From The Daily Beast

By agreement, the countdown was to be broadcast to all aircraft over one of the airport frequencies.

From Project Gutenberg

Our ears were deafened by the sharp rat-tat-tat of the machine guns, and by our own frantic anti-aircraft fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Every available piece of anti-aircraft artillery was turned upon the fleecy mass.

From Project Gutenberg

"Get an anti-aircraft gun from the Island and shell hell out of them when they come round again," suggested the artilleryman.

From Project Gutenberg

Airplanes were buzzing overhead; searchlights were meeting in the sky while anti-aircraft guns banged away.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• airliner
• balloon
• chopper
• helicopter
• jet