noun
airspeed
noun
1
An aircraft's speed measured relative to the air it is moving through, rather than relative to the ground.
"The pilot adjusted throttle to maintain a safe airspeed during the approach."
How to Use Airspeed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow fast a plane is flying through the air, which can differ from its ground speed because of wind.
Common mistake
Airspeed is not the same as ground speed — a headwind or tailwind changes how fast a plane covers ground even if its airspeed stays constant.
Easily confused with
ground speed
Word Forms
airspeeds plural
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The pilot adjusted throttle to maintain a safe _____ during the approach.
Etymology
From air + speed, a technical aviation term distinguishing motion through air from motion over the ground.