Definition

1. Noun:
   • A wind that blows across the direction of travel of a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft. It is not blowing directly from the front (headwind) or from behind (tailwind), but from the side.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The pilot had to make a difficult landing in a strong crosswind.
  • Sailing in a crosswind requires adjusting the sails carefully.
  • The cyclist was pushed off course by a sudden gust of crosswind.

Advanced Usage

• "To crab into a crosswind": An aviation technique where an aircraft is pointed slightly into the direction of the crosswind to maintain a straight ground track during approach and landing.
  • The plane crabbed into the crosswind to align with the runway.
• "Crosswind component": In aviation, the part of the wind velocity that acts perpendicular to the runway or intended path, which is critical for calculating takeoff and landing performance.
  • The crosswind component was at the limit for the aircraft's certification.

Variants and Related Words

• Headwind (n): A wind blowing directly opposite to the course of a vehicle.
  • The headwind slowed our progress.
• Tailwind (n): A wind blowing in the same direction as the course of a vehicle.
  • We made good time with a strong tailwind.

Synonyms

• Sidewind: (Less common) A wind blowing from the side.
• Beam wind: (Nautical) A wind blowing at a right angle to a vessel's course.

Related Phrases

• Crosswind landing: A landing maneuver performed when a significant crosswind is present.
  • The student pilot practiced crosswind landings.
• Crosswind takeoff: A takeoff performed in crosswind conditions.
  • The crosswind takeoff required full rudder control.

Idioms

Noun

1. wind blowing across the path of a ship or aircraft