air-speed meter
Definition
Noun: an instrument that measures the speed of an aircraft relative to the surrounding air. This device is typically mounted in the cockpit and displays the aircraft's velocity in knots, miles per hour, or kilometers per hour.
Usage Examples
- (The instrument showed the plane's speed through the air.)
- (A broken speed indicator may cause errors in navigation.)
Advanced Usage
- "air-speed meter indicator": a specific term for the display dial of the instrument.
- The air-speed meter indicator showed a sudden drop, prompting the pilot to adjust the throttle. (The needle on the gauge revealed a decrease in speed.)
Variants and Related Words
- Air speed (n): the speed of an aircraft relative to the air mass through which it moves.
- The aircraft's air speed was 250 knots, but its ground speed was slower due to headwinds. (Speed through the air, not over the ground.)
- Speedometer (n): a general instrument for measuring speed, typically in vehicles.
- Unlike a car's speedometer, an air-speed meter accounts for air density changes. (A specific type of speed indicator for aircraft.)
Synonyms
- Airspeed indicator: the standard term for the instrument in aviation.
- The airspeed indicator is a critical component of the cockpit's flight instruments. (Another name for the air-speed meter.)
Related Idioms
- "On the meter": an informal phrase meaning to be measured or recorded, often used in aviation contexts.
- The pilot kept the aircraft's speed "on the meter" to stay within safe limits. (Maintaining the speed shown on the air-speed meter.)