✈️ Angled backward 💇 Combed backward

sweptback

1 7.7

Wings that are angled backward from their base to help a plane fly faster

adjective
/ˈswɛtˌbæk/

Specialized

: retrocedido

Older airplanes often had straight wings, but most modern jets use sweptback wings to reduce drag.

Examples

The new fighter jet features sweptback wings for improved aerodynamics.
Engineers tested several sweptback designs before choosing the final wing configuration.
The new fighter jet features sweptback wings for improved speed and maneuverability.
Many modern aircraft have sweptback designs to enhance speed.
The airplane's sweptback wings allow it to achieve higher speeds and better maneuverability.
With his hair styled in a sweptback fashion, he looked sophisticated and polished.
The sleek design of the new jet features uniquely sweptback wings for improved aerodynamics.

Synonyms

swept

vssweptback

Specialized

2 6.5

A wing that slants backward to help a plane fly faster

is limited to wings and similar parts rather than any object

backswept

vssweptback

1 7.4

Angled to point toward the back rather than forward

specifies wings angled rearward for aerodynamic reasons in aircraft

sweptwing

vssweptback

Specialized

1 7.7

A plane with wings that slant backward to help it fly faster

focuses on the wing itself rather than the whole aircraft

Surface Forms

sweptback positive

Morphology

sweptback = sweep (transparent) = back + swept

Meaning is directly built from the past-participle form 'swept' + 'back' = moved/styled toward the rear; average learners can derive this from the components. [Postprocessing: moved 'back' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

The word sweptback comes from the parts swept (past of sweep, 'to push or move something') and back ('toward the rear'), so picture a wing being pushed or swept toward the back like hair blown behind your head. So, sweptback wings are angled toward the rear to help a plane move more smoothly through the air.