Meaning & use
Slipstream
Last updated
A region of reduced air pressure and forward-pulling turbulence immediately behind a fast-moving vehicle, such as a car or aircraft.
See it in a sentence
The cyclist tucked into the slipstream of the lead rider to save energy.
Race car drivers often use the slipstream of the car ahead to gain speed before overtaking.
A note on using this word
In auto racing, riding in a competitor's slipstream to reduce drag is commonly called "drafting."
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To travel closely behind another vehicle to take advantage of reduced air resistance.
The cyclists slipstreamed behind the pace car for the first ten miles.
Make it your own
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