Definition

1. Noun:
   • Airship: A powered, steerable, lighter-than-air aircraft. It consists of an elongated, gas-filled envelope (the "balloon" or "gas cell") for lift, one or more engines for propulsion, and a control system for steering and navigation. It is distinct from a free-floating balloon because it is powered and dirigible (steerable).

Usage Examples

• (The first airship was built in the late 19th century.)
• (An airship can fly long distances thanks to its engine and steering system.)
• (They observed the city from the airship.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is a compound noun, where "khí cầu" means "balloon" and "máy" implies "powered by a machine" or "engine." It is a specific technical term for a dirigible.
• Historical Context: Often associated with historical vessels like the German Zeppelins used in the early 20th century for passenger travel and military purposes.

Variants and Related Words

• Khí cầu (n): balloon (specifically a hot-air or gas balloon without its own propulsion for steering).
  • Khí cầu bay lên nhờ không khí nóng. (The balloon rises due to hot air.)
• Tàu bay (n): a general term for "airship" or "flying ship," sometimes used interchangeably with "khí cầu máy" but can also refer to early aircraft.
• Zeppelin (n): a type of rigid airship, named after its German inventor, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

Synonyms

• Dirigible: A synonym for airship, emphasizing its steerability.
• Blimp: A non-rigid airship (without an internal framework). While all blimps are airships, not all airships (like rigid Zeppelins) are blimps.

Related Idioms

• There are no common idioms specifically using the term "khí cầu máy." The concept is primarily technical.