Standard Lemma guide

ornithopter

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • UK: /ˈɔː.nɪˌθɒp.tə/
  • US: /ˈɔɹ.nɪˌθɑp.tɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An aircraft that generates lift through the flapping of its wings.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

heavier-than-air craft that is propelled by the flapping of wings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: orthopter

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: heavier-than-air craft

History

Etymology

From French ornithoptère, from Ancient Greek ὄρνιθ- (órnith-) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”), equivalent to ornitho- + -pter.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: klapvliegtuig — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Armenian: օրնիթոպտեր (ōrnitʻopter) — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Armenian: թռչնաթեւ (tʻṙčʻnatʻew) — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Catalan: ornitòpter — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Esperanto: ornitoptero — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Finnish: ornitopteri — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Finnish: siipilyöntilentokone — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • French: ornithoptère — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • German: Ornithopter — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • German: Schlagflügelflugzeug — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • German: Schlagflügelapparat — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Greek: ορνιθόπτερος (ornithópteros) — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Italian: ornitottero — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Norwegian: Ornithopter — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Portuguese: ornitóptero — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Romanian: ornitopter — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Russian: орнитоптер (ornitopter) — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Serbo-Croatian: орнитоптера (ornitoptera) — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Spanish: ornitóptero — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Turkish: ornitopter — aircraft that flaps its wings
  • Turkish: çırpankanat — aircraft that flaps its wings