spool down

verb

To decrease in rotational speed, producing a decrease in thrust.

“All ground personnel MUST be made aware that big jet engines take a considerable time to spool down. We don't want any more mechanics getting sucked in or catapulted across the apron.”

Opposite
spool up
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Meanings

verbspool down (third-person singular simple present spools down, present participle spooling down, simple past and past participle spooled down)

present singular third person spools down · participle present spooling down · participle past spooled down · past spooled down

  1. aeronauticsTo decrease in rotational speed, producing a decrease in thrust.

    All ground personnel MUST be made aware that big jet engines take a considerable time to spool down. We don't want any more mechanics getting sucked in or catapulted across the apron.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
spool up
Cite this entry
APA

spool down. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spool%20down

MLA

“spool down.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spool%20down. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “spool down,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/spool%20down.

Source: spool down on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.