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Glite Dictionary
✈️ A plane tip 🐦 A small wing
winglet

winglet

5.4
A small wing-like part on animals, plants, or young birds that helps them glide
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪŋlɪt/
translation icon : alita
  • The bird had a small winglet on its back.

Examples

  • The young bird stretched its tiny winglets as it learned to balance.

  • Some insects have small winglets that help them glide through the air.

  • The plant's seeds are equipped with winglets to aid in wind dispersal.

  • These winglets help the young bird to stabilize.

  • The bird's flight improved significantly after its trainer added winglets to its wings.

  • Scientists are studying the winglets of the new model of drone to enhance its performance.

  • The young falcon developed small winglets as it prepared for its first flight.

Synonyms

spurious wing
vswinglet
  • Specialized
9.1

A small group of stiff feathers on a bird's thumb that helps control flight

is a broader small wing-like projection rather than this specific feather tuft
bastard wing
vswinglet
  • Specialized
9.9

A small stiff group of feathers on the front edge of a bird's wing that helps control flight when landing

is the alternative traditional name for the same tuft
flugel
vswinglet
  • UK
9.9

A part of a building, vehicle, or animal that sticks out like a wing

is narrower meaning a small wing-like projection mainly on animals or plants

Surface Forms

winglet singular
winglets plural

Morphology

winglet = wing (transparent) = wing + let

The diminutive suffix '-let' meaning 'small' combines with 'wing' to yield a straightforward 'small wing' meaning.

Etymology

Winglet is made of wing and the ending -let, which means 'small' or 'little', just like in booklet or leaflet. So a winglet is a 'small wing' on a young bird, insect, or seed that helps it balance and move through the air.