tailfin
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A decorative projection on the rear of an automobile: One of a pair of ornamental fins, often made of metal, that were a distinctive design feature on cars, especially from the late 1940s through the 1950s. 2. A vertical stabilizer on an aircraft: A fixed vertical surface at the rear of an airplane that provides stability in flight, helping to prevent unwanted side-to-side (yawing) motion. This is a key part of the aircraft's tail assembly.
Examples
- Automotive context:
- The 1959 Cadillac is famous for its enormous, dramatic tailfins.
- The car's sleek design was accentuated by its sharp tailfins.
- Aeronautical context:
- The damage to the airplane's tailfin required immediate inspection.
- Engineers analyzed the airflow over the vertical tailfin.
Advanced Usage
- "Tailfin era": A term used to describe the period in automotive design, particularly in American cars, when prominent tailfins were fashionable.
- The 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air is an iconic car from the tailfin era.
Variants and Related Words
- Fin: A more general term for a thin, flat component used for stability, which can refer to parts on cars, aircraft, or aquatic animals.
- Vertical stabilizer: The technical aeronautical term for an aircraft's tailfin.
- Dorsal fin: The fin on the back of a fish or marine mammal, which is the biological analogue.
Synonyms
- For automobiles: Fin, rear fin, decorative fin.
- For aircraft: Vertical stabilizer, vertical fin, rudder fin (note: the rudder is typically the movable part attached to the tailfin).
Related Phrases
- Tailfin design: Refers specifically to the styling of automobiles featuring this element.
- The concept car pays homage to classic tailfin design.
Noun
- one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile
- a stabilizer that is part of the vertical tail structure of an airplane