Definition
orthopter
noun
- a heavier-than-air aircraft designed to fly by flapping wings like a bird
Usage: also called ornithopter; primarily used in aeronautical engineering and aviation contexts
Examples
- Engineers have been experimenting with orthopter designs for centuries.
- The orthopter mimics the wing movements of birds to generate lift.
- Modern orthopters remain largely experimental aircraft.
- Leonardo da Vinci sketched early concepts for an orthopter in his notebooks.
- Building a functional orthopter requires precise understanding of aerodynamics and biomechanics.