Definition

Noun: 1. A large commercial airliner characterized by having two passenger aisles running the length of the cabin: This term specifically refers to the physical design of the aircraft's main cabin, which is wide enough to accommodate two parallel aisles, separating the seats into typically three sections (e.g., 2-5-2, 3-3-3, or 3-4-3 seating configurations). This design is in contrast to a "narrow-body" aircraft, which has a single aisle.

Usage

• The term "wide-body" is used primarily in aviation contexts to classify and describe large passenger jets.
• It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
• It is often used attributively as a compound adjective before another noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• "For the long-haul route across the Pacific, the airline operates a wide-body like the Boeing 777."
• "The passenger cabin of a wide-body feels more spacious due to the two aisles."
• "The airport's new terminal was built to handle the increased number of wide-body aircraft."

Advanced Usage

• The term can be used metonymically to refer not just to the aircraft type but also to the capacity and range it represents.
  • Example: "To compete on major international routes, a carrier needs a fleet of wide-bodies."

Variants and Related Words

• Wide-body aircraft (n.): The full, formal term.
• Wide-body jet (n.): A common synonym emphasizing the jet propulsion.
• Twin-aisle aircraft (n.): A technical synonym that describes the same feature.
• Narrow-body (n.): The direct antonym, referring to a single-aisle airliner (e.g., Boeing 737, Airbus A320).

Synonyms

• Twin-aisle aircraft
• Jumbo jet (Note: This is a less precise, more colloquial term that often refers to the largest wide-bodies like the Boeing 747.)

Related Phrases

• Wide-body configuration: Refers to the specific interior layout (seating, galley positions) of such an aircraft.
  • Example: "The airline chose a high-density wide-body configuration for its budget long-haul flights."

Noun

1. a commercial airliner with two aisles