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Glite Dictionary
groundspeed

groundspeed

1 6.0
Speed at which a plane moves over the ground
  • noun
  • /ˈgraʊndˌspiːd/
  • Specialized
: velocidad sobre el suelo
  • As the aircraft approached the runway, the groundspeed was carefully monitored by air traffic control.

Examples

  • Groundspeed is irrelevant.

    Blog text (21)

  • Mobile lab to mobile one, groundspeed is increasing.

    Twister (1996)

  • Bill, Jo, groundspeed is increasing.

    Twister (1996)

  • The pilot reported that the groundspeed was steadily increasing during the flight.

  • Understanding the groundspeed of the plane is crucial for safe landing procedures.

How Fast

top speed
23 3.7
groundspeed
  • Specialized
1 6.0

Surface Forms

groundspeed singular
groundspeeds plural

Morphology

groundspeed = ground + speed (transparent) = ground + speed

A direct compound of 'ground' + 'speed' whose meaning ('speed relative to the ground') follows straightforwardly from its parts, though used in a technical aviation context.

Etymology

The word groundspeed is made of ground ('land') and speed ('how fast'), so it simply means how fast something moves over the ground. In flying, it is the speed an aircraft has compared with the ground, not its speed through the air, which is why pilots and air traffic control check groundspeed to know arrival times.