noun
thruster
THRUH-st
Thruster (noun) means a small engine used to steer or position a spacecraft, ship, or submarine. Example: “The astronauts fired the thrusters to adjust the capsule's orbit.”
noun
1
A small engine used to steer or position a spacecraft, ship, or submarine.
"The astronauts fired the thrusters to adjust the capsule's orbit."
2
A type of shortboard surfboard with three equally-sized fins.
"He rode a classic thruster in the competition."
How to use thruster
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small propulsion engine on a vehicle, or a three-finned surfboard.
Common pairings
bow thruster
fire the thrusters
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Word forms
- Plural
- thrusters
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The astronauts fired the _____ to adjust the capsule's orbit.
Etymology
Formed from thrust plus -er; the surfboard sense was coined by surfboard designer Simon Anderson in 1980 and quickly became the generic name for that fin setup.
Class of 1980
thruster joined the language around 1980.
See the full Class of 1980 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for thruster
See all rhymes for thruster →Frequently asked questions
What does “thruster” mean?
The word “thruster” means a small engine used to steer or position a spacecraft, ship, or submarine. In plain terms, a small propulsion engine on a vehicle, or a three-finned surfboard.
How do you pronounce “thruster”?
“Thruster” is pronounced THRUH-st (/ˈθɹʌ.stɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “thruster” in a sentence?
Here is “thruster” used in a sentence: “The astronauts fired the thrusters to adjust the capsule's orbit.”
What part of speech is “thruster”?
“Thruster” is a noun.
Where does the word “thruster” come from?
The word “thruster” dates back to around 1980. Formed from thrust plus -er; the surfboard sense was coined by surfboard designer Simon Anderson in 1980 and quickly became the generic name for that fin setup.
How many meanings does “thruster” have?
“Thruster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small engine used to steer or position a spacecraft, ship, or submarine.
