black box — A device in an aircraft that records flight data and cockpit conversations, used to investigate accidents
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A device in an aircraft that records flight data and cockpit conversations, used to investigate accidents
Pronunciation (IPA): /blæk bɑːks/
Example Sentences
- Why do they call it a 'black box' when it's actually painted bright orange? Because logic isn't always logical!
- My brain is like a black box during exams — I put in the information, but nothing comes out correctly.
- The black box was found intact despite the severe damage to the aircraft.
black box
NOUN[/blæk bɑːks/]
A device in an aircraft that records flight data and cockpit conversations, used to investigate accidents
Investigators recover the black box from the crash site to uncover the truth.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term emerged in engineering during World War II to describe devices or systems whose internal mechanisms were unknown, hidden, or classified. Despite modern flight recorders being painted bright orange for visibility, the name 'black box' persisted from the original concept of an opaque, mysterious system whose workings remained concealed from external observation.
Breakdown
black (unknown or mysterious; opaque) + box (container or device) = a self-contained system whose internal operations are hidden or difficult to understand.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“Why do they call it a 'black box' when it's actually painted bright orange? Because logic isn't always logical!”
“My brain is like a black box during exams — I put in the information, but nothing comes out correctly.”
“The black box was found intact despite the severe damage to the aircraft.”
“Many people treat their smartphones as a black box, using them daily without understanding how they work.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.