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acrobatics

acrobatics

1 6.9
Daring flying moves pilots do to show skill, such as loops and rolls
  • noun
  • /ˌækrəˈbætɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : acrobacias aéreas
  • And so it was all a bunch of acrobatics to be able to land on oblique noise.
  • aerial acrobatics

And so it was all a bunch of acrobatics to be able to land on oblique noise.

Examples

  • Every penny I make goes into the building of a brand new biplane for air acrobatics.

  • "Major Avvin will fly the hopper, and I'll do the acrobatics.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The other could do all sorts of air acrobatics - fast swoops

    Fiction book (2001)
  • Former World War I aviators, hoping to make a living flying, hit upon an exciting new form of entertainment: aerial acrobatics.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Designed for speed and combat acrobatics, it features the latest Mrs. Halver series 3800 radar jamming framus.

  • Periodically, the lead hawk or two hawks would stoop out of view, and a trailing hawk assumed the lead position, continuing the aerial acrobatics that we took to be active pursuit of prey.

    Academic text (1990)
  • Some of the greatest pilots of the era, such as Charles Lindbergh, Pancho Barnes, and Wiley Post, became well-known through their aerial acrobatics and general risk-taking.

    Academic text (2003)
  • What was remembered as hot acrobatics had possibly only been a scattering of short events, maybe fifteen minutes of panicky fumbling in a pitch-dark dorm room, hiding under her Marimekko comforter.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The aerial displays of the team featured stunning acrobatics that captivated the audience.

  • During the exhibition, the pilot showcased his exceptional acrobatics with daring flips and rolls.

Synonyms

aerobatics
vsacrobatics
1 8.2

Difficult flying stunts that pilots do in planes for show or sport

is about daring performance displays rather than regular practice or sport
stunt flying
vsacrobatics
1 7.4

To do dangerous tricks in an airplane, often at airshows

emphasizes daring public performance rather than general aerial activity
stunting
vsacrobatics
7.8

Doing dangerous, exciting tricks with a plane to show skill

is limited to daring flight performances rather than dangerous moves in other settings

How Daring

stunt flying
1 7.4
acrobatics
  • Specialized
1 6.9
aerobatics
1 8.2
to maneuver
  • US
65 5.8
flight
1.0

Surface Forms

acrobatics singular
acrobatics plural

Morphology

acrobatics = acrobat (transparent) = acrobat + ics

Derived from 'acrobat' with the '-ics' suffix indicating the set of stunts or maneuvers; the aviation sense is an extension of the activities performed by acrobats.

Etymology

Acrobatics comes from Greek parts acro- 'high' and -bat 'to go' or 'to walk'. The idea of 'moving high' helps to remember why we call daring flying stunts by pilots acrobatics, because they are skillful moves high in the sky.