contrail
noun
con·trail
ˈkän-ˌtrāl 
: streaks of condensed water vapor created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes
Examples of contrail in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another SpaceX launch a couple of weeks earlier had caused a stir with its eye-catching streak of light and contrail.
—
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Around the world, scientists have conducted investigations debunking the chemtrails conspiracy theory, describing the existence of contrails and their variances at length.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Scientists have known for decades that the particles in the polluting tracks left by ships, which look much like the contrails seen behind planes, can brighten existing clouds.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
Earthlings from Southern California to Phoenix were treated to a spectacular, albeit brief, show as night fell and the light illuminated the sky, followed by a contrail that slowly dissipated.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Before descending to prevent contrails from forming, pilots must ask permission from the FAA tower first.
—Haley Rush, David Schechter, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024
The camera pans to a view of the city from the taxidermist’s office: streaks of aircraft contrail piercing the sky, children queuing in formation on a volleyball court, the last bits of crimson daylight filtering into the valley.
—Hazlitt, 16 Nov. 2023
Tear-gas cannisters soared above us, the contrails spidering toward the earth.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023
For its part, American Airlines is also working on transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels and even reducing airplane contrails that exacerbate global warming.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 28 Nov. 2023
Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Around the world, scientists have conducted investigations debunking the chemtrails conspiracy theory, describing the existence of contrails and their variances at length.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Scientists have known for decades that the particles in the polluting tracks left by ships, which look much like the contrails seen behind planes, can brighten existing clouds.
—Sabrina Weiss, WIRED, 20 Mar. 2024
Earthlings from Southern California to Phoenix were treated to a spectacular, albeit brief, show as night fell and the light illuminated the sky, followed by a contrail that slowly dissipated.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Before descending to prevent contrails from forming, pilots must ask permission from the FAA tower first.
—Haley Rush, David Schechter, CBS News, 16 Jan. 2024
The camera pans to a view of the city from the taxidermist’s office: streaks of aircraft contrail piercing the sky, children queuing in formation on a volleyball court, the last bits of crimson daylight filtering into the valley.
—Hazlitt, 16 Nov. 2023
Tear-gas cannisters soared above us, the contrails spidering toward the earth.
—Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023
For its part, American Airlines is also working on transitioning to sustainable aviation fuels and even reducing airplane contrails that exacerbate global warming.
—Justine Calma, The Verge, 28 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contrail.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near contrail
Cite this Entry
“Contrail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contrail. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contrail
noun
con·trail
ˈkän-ˌtrāl
: a stream of visible water or ice particles created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes
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