Tailspin: meaning, definitions and examples
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tailspin
[ หteษชlหspษชn ]
aeronautics
A tailspin refers to a specific type of uncontrolled descent or rotation of an aircraft. It generally occurs when the aircraft's wings lose their lift, causing it to fall rapidly while spinning around its vertical axis. This phenomenon is particularly dangerous, as it can lead to a loss of control and, ultimately, a crash. Pilots are trained to recognize the signs of a tailspin and take appropriate corrective actions to regain control.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The pilot expertly recovered the plane from a tailspin.
- During the storm, the fighter jet entered a tailspin.
- The instructor demonstrated how to avoid a tailspin.
- After the turbulence, the aircraft almost went into a tailspin.
figurative
In a figurative sense, a tailspin can describe a situation in which someone or something is rapidly deteriorating or losing control emotionally or psychologically. This usage often reflects a chaotic state that feels spiraling and increasingly hard to manage. For instance, when a person experiences a tailspin in their life, they may face overwhelming stress or anxiety that leads to erratic behavior or decisions.
Synonyms
chaos, collapse, downward spiral
Examples of usage
- After the breakup, she found herself in a tailspin.
- His finances went into a tailspin following the job loss.
- The company's stock entered a tailspin after the scandal was revealed.
Translations
Translations of the word "tailspin" in other languages:
๐ต๐น caรญda livre
๐ฎ๐ณ เคเคฟเคฐเคพเคตเค
๐ฉ๐ช Absturz
๐ฎ๐ฉ jatuh bebas
๐บ๐ฆ ะฒัะปัะฝะต ะฟะฐะดัะฝะฝั
๐ต๐ฑ swobodny spadek
๐ฏ๐ต ๆฅ้ไธ
๐ซ๐ท chute libre
๐ช๐ธ caรญda libre
๐น๐ท serbest dรผลรผล
๐ฐ๐ท ์์ ๋ํ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณููุท ุญุฑ
๐จ๐ฟ volnรฝ pรกd
๐ธ๐ฐ voฤพnรฝ pรกd
๐จ๐ณ ่ช็ฑไธ่ฝ
๐ธ๐ฎ prosto padanje
๐ฎ๐ธ frjรกls fall
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะตัะบัะฝ าาฑะปะฐั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแกแฃแคแแแ แแแชแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ azad dรผลmษ
๐ฒ๐ฝ caรญda libre
Word origin
The term 'tailspin' was first recorded in the early 20th century, appearing in aviation contexts when aircraft were becoming more prevalent and flight principles were being formalized. The word is a compound of 'tail', which refers to the back part of an aircraft, and 'spin', indicating a circular motion. The military and commercial aviation sectors began using the term as pilots witnessed the phenomenon during training and real flights. Over time, its figurative usage emerged as people started applying the term to describe various chaotic scenarios in life where individuals or organizations felt they were losing control. This dual applicability of the term has allowed 'tailspin' to remain relevant in both technical and everyday discussions.