AIRFOIL


Meaning of AIRFOIL in English

n.

Shaped surface, such as an airplane wing, tail, or propeller blade, that produces lift and drag when moved through the air.

An airfoil produces a lifting force that acts at right angles to the airstream and a dragging force that acts in the same direction as the airstream. High-speed aircraft usually employ thin, low-drag, low-lift airfoils; slow aircraft that carry heavy loads use thicker airfoils with high drag and high lift.

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.