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airbag

airbag

135 2.6
A safety device in cars that inflates quickly in a crash to protect passengers
  • noun
  • /ˈɛrˌbæɡ/
translation icon : airbag
  • In the event of a collision, the airbag inflates to protect passengers in the front seats.
  • airbag deployment
  • passenger airbag
  • deploy airbags

The mechanic might say, OK, but why did the airbags go off?

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Examples

  • A collision was detected and it appears your airbags have deployed.

  • Passenger airbag has been turned off.

  • Suddenly the airbag went off...

  • This is a car airbag I rescued from a car back during Mythbuster days.

  • Front-impact airbag deployment in all models after 2006.

  • I slammed my brakes on so hard, my airbag went off.

  • The test represents low-severity crashes in which the airbag may or may not be needed.

    Academic text (2000)
  • All models feature driver and front passenger airbags as standard equipment and meet the 1997 standards for side-impact protection.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Anti-lock brakes and both driver and front passenger airbags are offered as standard equipment.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Both driver and passenger were using restraints, and their airbags deployed.

    Academic text (2007)

Synonyms

air bag
vsairbag
  • Specialized
5 2.8

A safety cushion inside a car that fills with air quickly during a crash to protect people

has identical meaning but is written as one unspaced word

Compounds

curtain airbag
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A bag along a car roof that inflates to protect people's heads in side crashes and rollovers

side curtain airbag
  • Specialized
1 3.3

A large bag that inflates above side windows to protect heads in a side crash

How Shock-Absorbing

airbag
135 2.6
shock absorber
  • Specialized
3 3.9
cushion
  • Specialized
22 2.7
bumper
131 2.5
damper
  • Specialized
11 7.2
pad
118 1.4

Surface Forms

airbag singular
airbags plural

Morphology

airbag = air + bag (transparent) = air + bag

The meaning is directly composed from 'air' + 'bag': an inflatable bag; the components clearly predict the device's nature.

Etymology

Airbag comes from the English parts air- ('air') and -bag ('bag'), so it is a bag that fills very quickly with air to protect people in a crash.