sound barrier

noun

1. Also called sonic barrier, (not in technical use) a hypothetical barrier to flight beyond the speed of sound, so postulated because aircraft undergo an abruptly increasing drag force induced by compression of the surrounding air when traveling near the speed of sound.

sound barrier

noun

1. not in technical usage a hypothetical barrier to flight at or above the speed of sound, when a sudden large increase in drag occurs Also calledsonic barriertransonic barrier

Word History and Origins

Origin of sound barrier¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. break the sound barrier, to travel faster than the speed of sound.

Example Sentences

Intense sonic booms could be heard overhead as Israeli jets broke the sound barrier.

From BBC

Along the coast in the city of Tyre, Israeli jets are swooping low, breaking the sound barrier - but the beach below is more crowded.

From BBC

Heart-stopping sonic booms interrupt the hum of traffic in Beirut, as Israeli warplanes break the sound barrier in the skies above.

From BBC

Instead, Israeli warplanes are breaking the sound barrier to spread fear.

From BBC

The aircraft did manage to crash-land along the highway but slammed into a concrete sound barrier and burst into flames, killing both pilots.

From Seattle Times