vertical tail
1
6.0
- noun
- /ˈvɜrtɪkəl teɪl/
- Specialized
:
cola vertical
- Other Dow-UT composites on the F-22 include forward fuselage parts and vertical tail ribs.
Examples
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The vertical tail of the aircraft helps maintain its stability during flight.
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NASA confirmed Friday that Enterprise suffered minor damage to its vertical tail due to Superstorm Sandy earlier this week.
Blog text (12) -
As the plane's immense vertical tail wipes our view: EXT.
Fiction book (2000) -
This is the the two pods on either side of the vertical tail are a couple of big ohms propellant tanks, oxidizer and fuel hypergolic.
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P-51 Mustang: regardless of engine and cowl, the straight line of the vertical tail (Mustang) vs. the curved vertical tail (Warhawk) is even more telling.
Blog text (34) -
P-51 Mustang: regardless of engine and cowl, the straight line of the vertical tail (Mustang) vs. the curved vertical tail (Warhawk) is even more telling.
Blog text (34) -
Engineers designed the vertical tail to minimize drag and enhance control.
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The pilot adjusted the plane's direction using the controls connected to the vertical tail.
Synonyms
1
5.9
Upright part of an airplane tail that helps keep the plane pointing straight during flight
1
4.3
A flat upright part on an airplane tail that keeps the plane pointing straight
1
4.2
A vertical surface at the plane's tail that helps keep it steady in flight
1
5.4
A vertical fin at the back of an airplane that keeps it flying straight
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'the upright tail section of an aircraft' is directly composed from 'vertical' (upright) + 'tail' (rear part), following a straightforward adjective + noun pattern. Although it's a technical aviation term, the constituent meanings map transparently onto the compound, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's sense.
Etymology
Vertical tail names the part of a plane's tail that stands up: vertical means 'up and down' and tail is the back part of the plane. It works like a small fin or a wind vane to keep the plane pointing the right way, so it means 'the upright part of the tail that gives directional stability'.