propeller

noun

pro·​pel·​ler prə-ˈpe-lər How to pronounce propeller (audio)
variants or less commonly propellor
: one that propels
especially : a device that consists of a central hub with radiating blades placed and twisted so that each forms part of a helical surface and that is used to propel a vehicle (such as a ship or airplane)

Examples of propeller in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The captain of a diving boat has been found guilty of seaman’s manslaughter after one of his passengers died tangled up in the propeller, according to federal prosecutors in Florida. — Mark Price, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025 Propelled by 32 electric propeller drives with a combined 5,360 horsepower, the LCA60T can achieve a top speed of 63 mph. — Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025 An unmanned aerial vehicle, the drone has four propellers on an 18-by-17-inch base. — David W. Dunlap, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2025 At the bottom of that mast is a foiling wing and a motor/propeller module. — Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for propeller

Word History

Etymology

propel + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of propeller was in 1780

Phrases Containing propeller

Rhymes for propeller

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propeller
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Cite this Entry

“Propeller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propeller. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

propeller

noun
pro·​pel·​ler prə-ˈpel-ər How to pronounce propeller (audio)
: a device consisting of a hub fitted with blades that is made to turn rapidly by an engine and is used especially for propelling airplanes and ships

More from Merriam-Webster on propeller

Nglish: Translation of propeller for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about propeller

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