supersonic
supersonic Lexical Profile
supersonic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Involving, designating, or capable of traveling at a speed greater than the speed of sound in a given medium, especially air.
"The aerospace engineers tested the new supersonic passenger jet in a specialized wind tunnel."
(Dated) Of or relating to sound waves with a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing; ultrasonic.
"Early twentieth-century physics papers often referred to high-frequency acoustic vibrations as supersonic waves."
• noun
An aircraft or other vehicle capable of traveling at a speed greater than the speed of sound.
"Commercial supersonics were largely retired from service due to high fuel costs and noise regulations."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Supersonic' specifically refers to speeds faster than sound, whereas 'ultrasonic' refers to sound waves with frequencies above the upper limit of human hearing.
• Rhymes for supersonic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century from the prefix 'super-' (from Latin super, meaning 'above' or 'beyond') and 'sonic' (from Latin sonus, meaning 'sound'). It originally referred to high-frequency sound waves before 'ultrasonic' took over that sense, leaving 'supersonic' to describe speeds exceeding the speed of sound.