tail fin

tail fin
noun
1. a stabilizer that is part of the vertical tail structure of an airplane
• Hypernyms: ↑stabilizer
• Part Holonyms: ↑vertical tail
2. one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile
• Syn: ↑tailfin, ↑fin
• Derivationally related forms: ↑fin (for: ↑fin)
• Hypernyms: ↑decoration, ↑ornament, ↑ornamentation
• Part Holonyms: ↑car, ↑auto, ↑automobile, ↑machine, ↑motorcar
3. the tail of fishes and some other aquatic vertebrates
• Syn: ↑caudal fin
• Hypernyms: ↑fin
• Hyponyms: ↑heterocercal fin, ↑homocercal fin
• Part Holonyms: ↑fish

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noun
2. : fin 2c(3)

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tail fin,
1. a fin at the tail end of the body of a fish, whale, or the like: »

It has two powerful pectoral fins at the front and a tail fin which acts as a skid at the rear (New Scientist).

2. any object like this, as that which sticks out on the tail of an airplane or on the rear fenders of an automobile.

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n. Zoology a fin at the posterior extremity of a fish's body, typically continuous with the tail. Also called caudal fin
■ Aeronautics a projecting vertical surface on the tail of an aircraft, providing stability and typically housing the rudder
■ an upswept projection on each rear corner of an automobile, popular in the 1950s

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noun, pl ⋯ fins [count]
1 : a fin at the back end of a fish, whale, etc.
2 : a decorative part on the back of a car that is shaped like a fish's fin

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • tail fin — 1. a fixed or adjustable fin on the rear of a rocket, car, etc.: sometimes written tailfin n. 2. Zool. a movable fin that forms the tail of a fish, the fluke of a whale, etc. * * * …   Universalium

  • tail fin — 1. a fixed or adjustable fin on the rear of a rocket, car, etc.: sometimes written tailfin n. 2. Zool. a movable fin that forms the tail of a fish, the fluke of a whale, etc …   English World dictionary

  • tail fin — ► NOUN 1) Zoology a fin at the posterior end of a fish s body. 2) a projecting vertical surface on the tail of an aircraft, housing the rudder and providing stability. 3) an upswept projection on each rear corner of a motor car, popular in the… …   English terms dictionary

  • tail fin — tail′ fin n. 1) ich the terminal vertical fin of a fish 2) aum See under fin I, 6) • Etymology: 1675–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • tail fin — n. fin attached to the fish s tail; decorative protrusion resembling a fin on a car s rear fender; stabilizer being a part of the upright tail structure of a plane …   English contemporary dictionary

  • tail fin — noun 1》 Zoology a fin at the posterior extremity of a fish s body, typically continuous with the tail. 2》 a projecting vertical surface on the tail of an aircraft, housing the rudder. 3》 an upswept projection on each rear corner of a car, popular …   English new terms dictionary

  • tail fin — A vertical fin on the back of the rear fenders. Copied from a lockheed P38 fighter plane, Cadillac introduced tail fins on a coupe in 1948; they were a fashion until the 1960s …   Dictionary of automotive terms

  • tail fin — noun Date: 1681 1. the terminal fin of a fish or cetacean 2. fin 2b …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • tail fin — the fin at the end of the body. Also called the caudal fin …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • tail fin. — 1. See caudal fin. 2. Auto. See under fin1 (def. 7). [1675 85] * * * …   Universalium

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