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preflight

preflight

4 4.5
A set of checks done before a plane takes off to ensure safety
  • noun
  • /ˈpriːflaɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : prevuelo
  • Before the flight, the pilot completed a thorough preflight inspection to ensure everything was in order.
  • a preflight check
  • a preflight checklist
  • a preflight inspection

Examples

  • I went methodically through the preflight checklist.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Currently, in small aircraft, a significant amount of time and experience is required to perform a vehicle preflight check.

    Academic text (2002)

  • LUKE: "Let's do the preflight check. "

    Memphis Belle (1990)

  • Did you clean the sand out of the engine and do your preflight, Mr. Towns?

    Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

  • Preflight checks will be done on level D.

    Solar Crisis (1992)

  • While the freight is being loaded, we run through our preflight checks.

    Blog text (11)

  • The whole crew was clustered around the spaceplane, probably doing the final preflight check prior to the engine test.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Above, Wilbur conducts a preflight check in France.

    Academic text (2003)

  • He immediately led me out to the ramp (aircraft parking area) and began to show me how to do a preflight check of the airplane.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Though not a trained engineer, Lando was more knowledgeable about his ship's systems than most pilots were and liked to perform his own preflight maintenance checks.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

precheck
vspreflight
1 3.8

A check you do before an event to find problems

is specific to aircraft checks before takeoff for safety and readiness

How Thorough

preflight
  • Specialized
4 4.5
walkthrough
2 3.9

Surface Forms

preflight singular
preflights plural

Morphology

preflight = flight (semi-transparent) = pre + flight

The parts clearly suggest something occurring before a flight, but the specialized noun sense 'inspection or set of checks' is narrower than the morphology alone predicts.

Etymology

Preflight is the name for the checks done before flying; it joins pre- 'before' and flight 'a trip by air'. So a preflight is an inspection to make sure the aircraft is ready.