Pitot head
- noun
- /ˈpiːtoʊ hɛd/
- Specialized
:
cabeza de Pitot
- Ice can sometimes block the Pitot head, causing incorrect airspeed readings.
Examples
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The Pitot head is vital for accurate airspeed readings.
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The Pitot head must be checked for obstructions before every flight.
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Engineers designed a new Pitot head to improve the aircraft's performance in adverse weather.
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Do you know how the Pitot head functions?
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The pilot inspected the Pitot head to ensure it was free of ice for a safe takeoff.
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Before flying, the mechanic confirmed that the Pitot head was functioning correctly to avoid navigation errors.
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During the aircraft's pre-flight check, the technician cleaned the Pitot head to maintain accurate speed measurements.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A tube with an open end facing moving air or water to measure speed
1
6.8
A small tube that measures how fast air moves to show an airplane's speed
A small tube on a plane that measures air pressure to show the speed of the plane
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound links the technical eponym 'Pitot' (a device for measuring fluid velocity) with 'head' in its technical sense (a measure of pressure), so a learner who knows both constituent meanings can partially infer it refers to a pressure/airspeed measurement device. However the specific configuration (a combined Pitot tube and static tube measuring total and static pressure) is domain-specific and not fully predictable from the parts alone, making the transparency only partial.
Etymology
Pitot head is the name for the device on the front of a plane that joins a Pitot tube (a small tube that faces the air) and a static tube (an opening that senses outside pressure). Together they measure 'air pressure' differences so pilots can tell the plane's 'airspeed'.