lighter-than-air
Americanadjective
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(of an aircraft) weighing less than the air it displaces, hence obtaining lift from aerostatic buoyancy.
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of or relating to lighter-than-air craft.
adjective
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having a lower density than that of air
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of or relating to an aircraft, such as a balloon or airship, that depends on buoyancy for support in the air
Etymology
Origin of lighter-than-air
First recorded in 1900–05
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For one thing, the ship gets its lift from helium – a lighter-than-air gas that does not burn.
From NewsForKids.net • Dec. 7, 2023
Its balloon program could collapse if the United States decides to notify other countries when lighter-than-air vehicles are heading their way.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2023
Beijing also reportedly test-fired a new hypersonic missile from a floating airship in 2018, highlighting the military’s interest and multiple uses for lighter-than-air aircraft.
From Washington Times • Feb. 6, 2023
“Despechá” — abbreviated slang for spiteful — is a lighter-than-air, mambo-nodding dance-floor anthem, and an invitation to join the ranks of the Motomamis.
From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2022
Both the lighter-than-air and the heavier than-air craft possess distinctive features and varying degrees of mobility.
From Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War by Talbot, Frederick Arthur Ambrose
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
