tail-wind
Definition
- Noun:
- Meteorological/Aeronautical term: a "tailwind" is a wind that blows in the same direction as the movement of an aircraft, vehicle, or other moving object, thereby increasing its speed relative to the ground.
Usage Examples
- (The wind pushing from behind helped the aircraft travel faster.)
- (The wind blowing from behind makes pedaling easier.)
Advanced Usage
"to have a tail-wind": to experience favorable conditions that aid progress or success.
- The company’s recent growth has been supported by a tail-wind of low interest rates. (External factors are helping the business move forward.)
"tail-wind effect": the positive impact of external forces on a process or outcome.
- The tail-wind effect of government subsidies boosted renewable energy adoption. (Subsidies acted like a helpful wind.)
Variants and Related Words
Tailwind (n): the standard spelling (often written as one word or hyphenated).
- The forecast predicts a tailwind for the flight. (A wind blowing from behind.)
Headwind (n): the opposite of a tailwind; a wind blowing directly against the direction of travel.
- The runner struggled against a strong headwind. (A wind that slows progress.)
Synonyms
- Following wind: a wind that blows from behind.
- Favorable wind: a wind that helps movement or progress.
Related Idioms
- To have the wind at one's back: to be in a position of advantage or support.
- With the economy booming, investors had the wind at their back. (They benefited from favorable conditions.)