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spacecraft — a vehicle designed to travel or operate in outer space

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: a vehicle designed to travel or operate in outer space

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈspeɪsˌkræft/

Example Sentences

  • My neighbor claims his garden shed is actually a top-secret spacecraft, but it still can't even keep the rain out.
  • NASA's new spacecraft will carry advanced instruments to study distant planets.
  • The spacecraft's communication system malfunctioned, leaving astronauts temporarily out of contact with Earth.

spacecraft

NOUN

[/ˈspeɪsˌkræft/]

a vehicle designed to travel or operate in outer space

Astronauts board the spacecraft as it prepares for liftoff to Mars.
💡 Concept

Astronauts board the spacecraft as it prepares for liftoff to Mars.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈspeɪsˌkræft/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈspeɪsˌkrɑːft/

🌳Etymology

Rootspace + craft

Origin

Spacecraft is a modern English compound word formed from 'space' and 'craft,' emerging in the mid-20th century alongside the development of space exploration. The term combines the concept of outer space with the traditional nautical and aeronautical meaning of 'craft' (vessel or vehicle), creating a word for vehicles designed to operate in space.

Breakdown

space (outer space, cosmos) + craft (vessel, aircraft, or vessel used for navigation or transportation). The compound follows the English pattern of combining a domain noun with a vehicle type to create specialized terminology.

🎵Rhyme

aircraft
hovercraft
watercraft

🔗Collocations

launch a spacecraft
manned spacecraft
spacecraft mission
spacecraft debris
robotic spacecraft
spacecraft technology

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My neighbor claims his garden shed is actually a top-secret spacecraft, but it still can't even keep the rain out.”

“NASA's new spacecraft will carry advanced instruments to study distant planets.”

“The spacecraft's communication system malfunctioned, leaving astronauts temporarily out of contact with Earth.”

“Scientists are developing a spacecraft that runs on solar power for long-duration missions.”

📚Related Words

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