Subject: Propulsion
How to make spaceships go.
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| atomic engine n. (1914) | an engine powered by nuclear energy |
| atomics n. 1 (1932) | any device powered by nuclear energy, esp. a nuclear-powered engine |
| grav n. 1 (1939) | an anti-gravitational propulsion device; (typically as) gravs: a propulsion system using antigravity |
| gravity drive n. (1932) | a spaceship drive that uses any technology associated with gravity |
| hyperdrive n. (1946) | a spaceship drive that enables travel faster than the speed of light; (also) the state of such travel; cf. hyperspace n. |
| impeller n. (1936) | a device used to produce propulsive thrust |
| ion drive n. (1947) | a spacecraft propulsion system that uses electrically accelerated ions |
| jet pack n. (1952) | a device, worn over the shoulders like a backpack, that enables the wearer to travel through the air or in space by means of jet propulsion |
| jump drive n. (1959) | a spacecraft drive that enables a ship to journey through hyperspace or to engage in any instantaneous (long-distance) travel; cf. jump n., jump v. |
| jump engine n. (1981) | = jump drive n. |
| light sail n. (1963) | = solar sail n. |
| overdrive n. (1945) | = hyperdrive n. |
| ramscoop n. (1965) | a space propulsion method that uses electromagnetic fields at the front of a spaceship to gather interstellar material for fuel for a fusion-powered space drive |
| reaction drive n. (1942) | a propulsion system for a slower-than-light spacecraft that generates thrust by ejecting matter in a direction opposite that of travel |
| solar sail n. (1958) | a surface designed to utilize the pressure of solar radiation to provide the propulsive force for a spacecraft to which it is attached |
| space drive n. (1932) | a propulsion system for a spaceship; cf. star drive n. |
| space gun n. 1 (1929) | a large gun which projects a spacecraft into space; (also) a hand-held gun whose recoil is used by an astronaut for propulsion |
| spindizzy n. (1950) | in James Blishβs City in Flight series: a faster-than-light antigravity drive powered by a field that alters the magnetic rotation of atoms |
| star drive n. (1948) | a propulsion device for a spaceship capable of interstellar travel, esp. one that permits the ship to travel faster than light; cf. earlier space drive n. |
| superluminal adj. (1959) | having or being a speed greater than that of light; (also) designating an engine, etc., that can produce such a speed |
| thruster n. (1949) | an engine that creates thrust, esp. a small rocket engine used to adjust the attitude or course of a spacecraft in flight |
| torch n. (1950) | = torch drive n. |
| torch v. (1956) | to travel in a spaceship using a torch drive |
| torch drive n. (1976) | a fusion-powered, slower-than-light space drive |
| torcher n. (1953) | a pilot of a spaceship with a torch drive |
| torchship n. (1953) | a spaceship that uses a torch drive n. |
| ultradrive n. (1949) | a type of faster-than-light star drive |
| warp drive n. (1948) | a device by which a spaceship is enabled to travel through space by means of a space warp; a faster-than-light drive |