ornithopter

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UK/ˈɔː.nɪˌθɒp.tə/US/ˈɔɹ.nɪˌθɑp.tɚ/

noun

An aircraft that generates lift through the flapping of its wings.

Similar
orthopter
OriginFrench ornithoptère ← Ancient Greek ὄρνιθ- →
RareScrabble 16
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Meanings

nounornithopter (plural ornithopters)

plural ornithopters · alternative orthopter

  1. An aircraft that generates lift through the flapping of its wings.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounheavier-than-air craft that is propelled by the flapping of wings

Similar
orthopter
Broader
heavier-than-air craft
Also see
orthopterthopter

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekὄρνιθ-
  2. Frenchornithoptère
  3. Englishornithopter

From French ornithoptère, from Ancient Greek ὄρνιθ- (órnith-) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”), equivalent to ornitho- + -pter.

More words from French, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Afrikaans klapvliegtuig
  • klapvliegtuigaircraft that flaps its wings
Catalan ornitòpter
  • ornitòpteraircraft that flaps its wings
Esperanto ornitoptero
  • ornitopteroaircraft that flaps its wings
Finnish ornitopteri, siipilyöntilentokone
  • ornitopteriaircraft that flaps its wings
  • siipilyöntilentokoneaircraft that flaps its wings
French ornithoptère
  • ornithoptèreaircraft that flaps its wings
German Ornithopter, Schlagflügelflugzeug
  • Ornithopteraircraft that flaps its wings
  • Schlagflügelflugzeugaircraft that flaps its wings
  • Schlagflügelapparataircraft that flaps its wings
Greek ορνιθόπτερος
  • ορνιθόπτερος (ornithópteros)aircraft that flaps its wings
Italian ornitottero
  • ornitotteroaircraft that flaps its wings
Norwegian Ornithopter
  • Ornithopteraircraft that flaps its wings
Portuguese ornitóptero
  • ornitópteroaircraft that flaps its wings
Romanian ornitopter
  • ornitopteraircraft that flaps its wings
Russian орнитоптер
  • орнитоптер (ornitopter)aircraft that flaps its wings
Spanish ornitóptero
  • ornitópteroaircraft that flaps its wings
Turkish ornitopter, çırpankanat
  • ornitopteraircraft that flaps its wings
  • çırpankanataircraft that flaps its wings
Cite this entry
APA

ornithopter. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ornithopter

MLA

“ornithopter.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ornithopter. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ornithopter,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ornithopter.

Source: ornithopter on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.