angle of attack

noun

The angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it; one of the determiners of the amount of lift produced by an airfoil.

Similar
AOAαalpha
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Meanings

nounangle of attack (plural angles of attack)

plural angles of attack

  1. aeronauticsThe angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it; one of the determiners of the amount of lift produced by an airfoil.
  2. nauticalThe angle between a mid-sail and the direction of the wind.
  3. rail transportThe angle between the plane of rotation of a wheel and the outer rail in the track curve.
  4. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see angle, attack.

    Synonyms: AOA, AoA, α, alpha

Synonyms & antonyms

nounUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see angle, attack.

Similar
AOAAoAαalpha
Also see
angle of incidence

Translations

Bulgarian ъгъл на атака
  • ъгъл на атака (ăgăl na ataka)angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Czech úhel náběhu
  • úhel náběhuangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Finnish kohtauskulma, kohtauskulma
  • kohtauskulmaangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
  • kohtauskulmaangle between mid-sail and the direction of the wind
French incidence
  • incidenceangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
German Anstellwinkel
  • Anstellwinkelangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Greek γωνία προσβολής
  • γωνία προσβολής (gonía prosvolís)angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Polish kąt natarcia
  • kąt natarciaangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Romanian unghi de atac
  • unghi de atacangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Russian у́гол ата́ки, у́гол набега́ния
  • у́гол ата́ки (úgol atáki)angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
  • у́гол набега́ния (úgol nabegánija)angle between the plane of rotation of a wheel and the outer rail
Swedish anfallsvinkel
  • anfallsvinkelangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Turkish hücum açısı
  • hücum açısıangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Vietnamese góc tấn
  • góc tấnangle between the chord line of an airfoil and the airflow over it
Cite this entry
APA

angle of attack. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angle%20of%20attack

MLA

“angle of attack.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angle%20of%20attack. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “angle of attack,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/angle%20of%20attack.

Source: angle of attack on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.