fairing

1 of 2

noun (1)

fair·​ing ˈfer-iŋ How to pronounce fairing (audio)
1
British
a
: a present bought or given at a fair
b
: gift
2

fairing

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a member or structure whose primary function is to produce a smooth outline and to reduce drag (as on an airplane)

Examples of fairing in a Sentence

Noun (1) business takes him to all corners of the globe, but he never fails to bring back fairings for the family back in London
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The Intuitive Machines lunar lander that will deliver NASA science and technology to the Moon as part of the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative and Artemis campaign is encapsulated in the fairing of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Denise Chow, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2025 For aerodynamic effectiveness, the front and rear wheel fairings are situated separately from the body and are connected to the main structure by a few black struts. New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2025 Benda The fairings over the upside-down telescopic fork legs create the appearance of a pre-war-style girder design. New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2025 The footage, taken during a Starlink satellite delivery aboard the company's Falcon 9 rocket, shows a view of protective coverings known as payload fairings separating and falling back to Earth. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 23 Oct. 2024 SpaceX is also recovering and reusing payload fairings, the shell that encloses satellite payloads during their initial climb through the atmosphere. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025 The rocket stands over 320 feet (98 meters) tall and has a fairing nearly 23 feet (7 m) wide, which is larger than the more typical 17-foot (5 m) fairings of other rockets and allows for larger payloads. Tariq Malik, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2025 This is accomplished via the winglets on the front fairing, which create a downforce that stabilizes the entire chassis by keeping the front wheel firmly planted to the ground, particularly at high speeds. New Atlas, 28 Nov. 2024 The same company also supplies payload fairings for Europe's Ariane 6 and Vega rockets. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

fair entry 4

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fairing was in 1574

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Cite this Entry

“Fairing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fairing. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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