Slipstream: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The term 'slipstream' originally comes from aviation, where it described the air stream created behind an aircraft.
• The concept has expanded to include various contexts, including car racing and cycling, where following closely behind can enhance speed.
• The combination of 'slip' (to glide smoothly) and 'stream' (a flow of fluid or air) perfectly captures how this phenomenon works.

Science

• In physics, slipstreaming reduces drag, which is the resistance an object encounters while moving through air.
• This principle is not just for vehicles; animals, like birds, also utilize slipstreaming to conserve energy while flying in formation.
• Engineers apply the concept to design more aerodynamic vehicles to enhance speed and fuel efficiency.

Sports

• In competitive cycling, slipstreaming (or drafting) is a common technique meant to reduce wind resistance for riders.
• Sprint finishes in cycling often see athletes strategically positioning themselves behind rivals to gain a speed advantage in the final moments of the race.
• Motorsport racers also use slipstreaming to maximize their speeds on straightaways, allowing for strategic overtakes.

Literature

• The concept of slipstream has inspired various science fiction narratives, particularly in ideas surrounding faster-than-light travel.
• Writers use 'slipstream' in literature to describe works that blend genres, effectively riding the definition's 'stream' of fluid creativity.
• In novels, slipstream can symbolize characters navigating their paths by utilizing the strength of others' journeys.

Pop Culture

• The term has appeared in notable music, where lyrics reference the idea of following someone's lead to find success.
• Video games often simulate slipstreaming as a strategy, allowing players to gain speed boosts from following opponents closely.
• Popular racing films sometimes highlight characters using slipstreaming as a critical technique in exhilarating chase scenes.

This word's position of #33,211 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

• ...
• 33208 unscrew
• 33209 capon
• 33210 anticlerical
• 33211 slipstream
• 33212 collocated
• 33213 redrafted
• 33214 anticyclone
• ...