Wingspan - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Wingspan is the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the opposite wing when fully extended. It is commonly used to measure birds, aircraft, or other winged creatures and objects.
Definition:
The maximum extent across the wings of a bird, aircraft, or other flying object.
Synonyms:
wingspread, breadth, span
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
narrowness, widthlessness
Common Collocations:
wide wingspan, measure wingspan, impressive wingspan, bird's wingspan, aircraft wingspan
Derivatives:
wing-spanning (adj.), wingspanned (adj.)
Usage Tips:
Use "wingspan" to describe the distance between the tips of fully extended wings.
Common Phrases:
spread one's wings, under one's wing, take under one's wing
Etymology:
Derived from "wing" + "span," first recorded in the early 20th century for aviation and ornithology.
Examples:
- 1. The eagle’s wingspan can reach over seven feet.
- 2. The airplane’s wingspan is too wide for the small runway.
- 3. Scientists measured the albatross’s impressive wingspan during the study.
- 4. A larger wingspan helps birds glide more efficiently.