PROPELLANT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does propellant mean? 

• PROPELLANT (noun)
  The noun PROPELLANT has 1 sense:

1. any substance that propels

  Familiarity information: PROPELLANT used as a noun is very rare.

• PROPELLANT (adjective)
  The adjective PROPELLANT has 1 sense:

1. tending to or capable of propelling

  Familiarity information: PROPELLANT used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PROPELLANT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any substance that propels

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

propellant; propellent

Hypernyms ("propellant" is a kind of...):

substance (a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "propellant"):

rocket fuel; rocket propellant; rocket propellent (an explosive charge that propels a rocket)

compressed gas (gas at a high pressure that can be used as a propellant)

Derivation:

propel (cause to move forward with force)

propellant (tending to or capable of propelling)

• PROPELLANT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Tending to or capable of propelling

Synonyms:

propellant; propellent; propelling; propulsive

Context example:

universities...the seats of propulsive thought

Similar:

dynamic; dynamical (characterized by action or forcefulness or force of personality)

Derivation:

propel (cause to move forward with force)

propellant (any substance that propels)

 Context examples 

A colorless volatile poisonous liquid compound used as a solvent, fuel, aerosol, propellant and refrigerant.

(Dimethyl Ether, NCI Thesaurus)

A complete device charged with explosives, propellants, pyrotechnics, initiating composition, or nuclear, biological, or chemical material for use in military operations, including demolitions.

(Munition, NCI Thesaurus)

A spray composed of active and/or inert ingredient(s) that are expelled from a delivery device without the use of a propellant.

(Non-Aerosol Spray Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

The second mission extension provided dozens of flybys of the planet's icy moons, using the spacecraft's remaining rocket propellant along the way.

(Cassini Spacecraft Ends Its Historic Exploration of Saturn, NASA)

Upon activation of an appropriate valve system, the liquid is expelled into the air, the propellant is vaporized and the ingredients are dispersed.

(Aerosol Solution Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

After extraordinary science findings and technological innovations, a NASA spacecraft launched in 2004 to study Mercury will impact the planet’s surface, most likely on April 30, after it runs out of propellant.

(NASA Spacecraft Achieves Unprecedented Success Studying Mercury, NASA)

According to DARPA, the XS-1 will be about the size of a business jet and take off vertically, propelled not by external boosters but by “self contained cryogenic propellants.”

(Hypersonic Space Plane May Soon Be a Reality, VOA)

It can be manufactured and used for a variety of things such as a pharmacologic agent to produce anesthesia, a food additive as a propellant, and an additive to fuels to increase available oxygen in combustion.

(Nitrous Oxide, NCI Thesaurus)

A dosage form containing one or more active ingredients, surfactants, aqueous or non-aqueous liquids, and the propellants; if the propellant is in the internal (discontinuous) phase (i.e., of the oil-in-water type), a stable foam is discharged, and if the propellant is in the external (continuous) phase (i.e., of the water-in-oil type), a spray or a quick-breaking foam is discharged.

(Aerosol Foam Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

An aerosol product which utilizes a compressed gas as the propellant to provide the force necessary to expel the product as a wet spray; it is applicable to solutions of medicinal agents in aqueous solvents.

(Aerosol Spray Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)