Meanings
plural propulsions
- countableuncountableThe process of propelling, driving, or pushing, typically forward or onward; a propulsive force or impulse.
- countableuncountableThat which propels.
This propulsion provides an initial velocity for the vehicle in a short time span.
2013, Yung-Kang (Derby) Sun, Non-Propellant Propulsion for Space Flight, page 202 more examples
However, nuclear propulsion provides a very high specific impulse and consistent, long duration energy source.
1995, Joyce A. Hayes, Benjamin E. Goldberg, David M. Anderson, “Environmental Benefits of Chemical Propulsion”, in Ann F. Whitaker, editor, Aerospace Environmental Technology Conference, page 59Solar-electric propulsion accelerates a spacecraft by means of a low-thrust ion jet.
2015, Peter Jedicke, Extreme Science: The Highway of Light and Other Man-Made Wonders, Scientific American
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinpropello“to drive forward, drive forth, drive away, drive out”
- Medieval Latinpropulsio, propulsionis
- Englishpropulsion
Borrowed from Medieval Latin propulsio, propulsionis, from the past participle of Latin propello (“to drive forward, drive forth, drive away, drive out”).
More words from Medieval Latin, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian задвижване
- задвижване (zadvižvane)the action of driving or pushing
Catalan propulsió
- propulsióthe action of driving or pushing
Chinese Mandarin 動力 /动力, 推進力 /推进力
- 動力 /动力 (dònglì)the action of driving or pushing
- 推進力 /推进力 (tuījīnlì)the action of driving or pushing
Danish fremdrift
- fremdriftthe action of driving or pushing
Dutch voortstuwing
- voortstuwingthe action of driving or pushing
Finnish työntö, työntövoima
- työntöthe action of driving or pushing
- työntövoimathe action of driving or pushing
- propulsiothe action of driving or pushing
French propulsion
- propulsionthe action of driving or pushing
German Antrieb
- Antriebthe action of driving or pushing
Hindi प्रणोदन
- प्रणोदन (praṇodan)the action of driving or pushing
Hungarian meghajtás
- meghajtásthe action of driving or pushing
Japanese 推力
- 推力 (suiryoku)the action of driving or pushing
Portuguese propulsão
- propulsãothe action of driving or pushing
Romanian propulsare, propulsie
- propulsarethe action of driving or pushing
- propulsiethe action of driving or pushing
Russian дви́жущая си́ла, пропу́льсия
- дви́жущая си́ла (dvížuščaja síla)the action of driving or pushing
- пропу́льсия (propúlʹsija)the action of driving or pushing
Scottish Gaelic sparradh
- sparradhthe action of driving or pushing
Spanish propulsión
- propulsiónthe action of driving or pushing
Tamil உந்து
- உந்து (untu)the action of driving or pushing
Cite this entry
propulsion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propulsion
“propulsion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propulsion. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “propulsion,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propulsion.
Source: propulsion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.