hypersonic

English

Etymology

hyper- + sonic. Doublet of supersonic.

Adjective

hypersonic (comparative more hypersonic, superlative most hypersonic)

  1. (of a speed, aviation) Equal to, or greater than, or capable of achieving, five times the speed of sound.
    • 2021 June 3, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper, “U.S. Finds No Evidence of Alien Technology in Flying Objects, but Can’t Rule It Out, Either”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
      He said there was worry among intelligence and military officials that China or Russia could be experimenting with hypersonic technology.
  2. (of a speed, aeronautics) Far enough above the speed of sound as to cause significant differences in behaviour due to chemical reactions or dissociation of the air.

Derived terms

  • HGV
  • hypersonic bomb
  • hypersonic glide vehicle
  • hypersonic missile
  • hypersonics
  • hypersonic weapon

Translations

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