SAILPLANE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sailplane mean? 

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

1. aircraft supported only by the dynamic action of air against its surfaces

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

• SAILPLANE (verb)
  The verb SAILPLANE has 1 sense:

1. fly a plane without an engine

  Familiarity information: SAILPLANE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SAILPLANE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Aircraft supported only by the dynamic action of air against its surfaces

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

glider; sailplane

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

heavier-than-air craft (a non-buoyant aircraft that requires a source of power to hold it aloft and to propel it)

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

hang glider (a glider resembling a large kite; the rider hangs from it while descending from a height)

Derivation:

sailplane (fly a plane without an engine)

• SAILPLANE (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fly a plane without an engine

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

sailplane; soar

Hypernyms (to "sailplane" is one way to...):

glide (fly in or as if in a glider plane)

"Sailplane" entails doing...:

aviate; fly; pilot (operate an airplane)

Domain category:

air; air travel; aviation (travel via aircraft)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

sailplane (aircraft supported only by the dynamic action of air against its surfaces)

sailplaning (the activity of flying a glider)