lighter-than-air craft
1
5.9
- noun
- /ˈlaɪtər ðən ɛr kræft/
- Specialized
:
aeronave más ligera que el aire
- The historical museum features a display of a vintage lighter-than-air craft that captivated audiences in its heyday.
Examples
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This lighter-than-air craft was designed by Muntz himself... and is longer than 22 prohibition paddy wagons placed end to end.
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I have a great passion for lighter-than-air craft and their potential as a future means of transport, which opens the story.
Blog text (30) -
I may be just an old railroader and know nothing about lighter-than-air craft, but from my layman's perspective, you need more altitude!
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The new lighter-than-air craft glided gracefully above the city skyline during the festival.
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Engineers are excited about the innovative design of the latest lighter-than-air craft, which uses helium for buoyancy.
Synonyms
42
8.2
A large airship with a metal frame used to carry people and sometimes bombs in the early 1900s
28
5.7
A small soft flying balloon used to carry cameras or show ads
21
5.6
A large steerable flying machine filled with a light gas like helium
16
3.1
A large bag filled with hot air that lifts people in a basket
4
9.3
A large air vehicle like a balloon that people ride and you can steer
1
8.1
A flying machine like a balloon or airship that floats using a light gas
Antonyms
- Specialized
A machine like an airplane or helicopter that needs power to fly
How Buoyant
190
1.0
21
5.6
- Specialized
1
5.9
- Specialized
1
7.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
lighter-than-air + craft
The adjective phrase 'lighter-than-air' transparently means 'lighter than air' (i.e. less dense than the surrounding air), so when combined with 'craft' it yields a vehicle that floats by buoyancy rather than aerodynamic lift. This is a regular comparative modifier + noun composition that a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer, despite the slightly technical subject matter.
Etymology
Lighter-than-air craft comes from the idea that the vehicle is lighter than the surrounding air, so when it is filled with hot air or a light gas it will 'float' up and stay in the sky. That's why the term refers to a craft that is held up by being lighter than the air rather than by wings.