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Glite Dictionary
combat ceiling

combat ceiling

8.6
Highest altitude at which a military plane can still climb well in combat
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : techo de combate
  • The fighter jet achieved a combat ceiling of 50,000 feet, allowing it to evade enemy missiles.

Examples

  • Pilots must understand the combat ceiling to plan their ascent during missions in hostile environments.

  • Maintaining a high combat ceiling is crucial for aircraft during aerial dogfights.

  • Combat ceiling, 120,000 feet plus.

    Firefox (1982)

Synonyms

ceiling
vscombat ceiling
  • Specialized
2 6.6

The highest height a plane can reach

requires sustaining a set minimum climb rate rather than just reaching altitude
service ceiling
vscombat ceiling
  • Specialized
8.2

The highest altitude a plane can reach while still climbing at a normal rate

is measured under combat conditions rather than standard ones

How High

high-altitude
20 4.2
absolute ceiling
  • Specialized
8.1
combat ceiling
  • Specialized
8.6
low-altitude
5 4.3

Surface Forms

combat ceiling singular
combat ceilings plural

Morphology

combat + ceiling

The meaning 'maximum altitude under combat conditions' is directly compositional from 'combat' (armed engagement) modifying 'ceiling' (the highest altitude an aircraft can sustain). This is a straightforward noun–noun modifier+head construction that follows regular composition patterns and is likely understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.

Etymology

Combat ceiling joins combat, meaning fighting, and ceiling, the top of a room. Picture a plane hitting an invisible 'ceiling' where it can no longer climb or fight well, so the phrase means the highest height at which the plane can still climb and fight.