noun
the increase in aerodynamic drag as an airplane approaches the speed of sound
• Syn: ↑sonic barrier
• Hypernyms: ↑drag, ↑retarding force
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noun
the sound barrier
: the large increase in air resistance that occurs as an aircraft nears the speed of sound
a plane that is able to break the sound barrier [=to travel faster than the speed of sound]
* * *
the point at which an aircraft's speed is the same as the speed of sound, causing reduced control, a very loud noise (called a ↑sonic boom) and various other effects
•
to break the sound barrier
(= to travel faster than the speed of sound)Useful english dictionary. 2012.