airfoil

[ air-foil ]
/ ˈɛərˌfɔɪl /

noun Aeronautics.

any surface, as a wing, aileron, or stabilizer, designed to aid in lifting or controlling an aircraft by making use of the air currents through which it moves.

Origin of airfoil

First recorded in 1920–25; air1 + foil2

Words nearby airfoil

British Dictionary definitions for airfoil

airfoil
/ (ˈɛəˌfɔɪl) /

noun

US and Canadian a cross section of an aileron, wing, tailplane, or rotor blade Also called: aerofoil

Scientific definitions for airfoil

airfoil
[ ârfoil′ ]

A structure having a shape that provides lift, propulsion, stability, or directional control in a flying object. An aircraft wing provides lift by causing air to pass at a higher speed over the wing than below it, resulting in greater pressure below than above. Propellers are airfoils that are spun rapidly to provide propulsion. See more at Bernoulli effect. See Note at aerodynamics.