propulsion
pruh-PUL-shun
/prəˈpʌlʃən/
The action of driving or pushing forward.
In swimming, it refers to the force generated by the arms and legs to move the body through the water.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'propellere', where 'pro' means forward and 'pellere' means to drive. It’s the same root that gives us 'pulse' and 'compel'.
Word relationships
- thrust: Thrust is often used for sudden or powerful forward force, like a rocket.
- drag: The force that pulls back or resists forward motion.
Commonly confused with
- impulse: An impulse is a sudden urge or a single force; propulsion is a sustained driving action.
Word family
- propel (verb): To drive forward.
- propeller (noun): A device that provides propulsion.
Collocations
- jet propulsion
- manual propulsion
- forward propulsion
Example sentences
- "Jet propulsion changed the way we travel across the globe." Aviation history
- "The kick provides a significant portion of the propulsion in the breaststroke." Swimming tutorial
Memory hook
A 'propeller' provides 'propulsion'. Propel = Push forward.
When not to use
Rarely used for walking or running; usually reserved for vehicles or movement through a medium like water or air.
Fun facts
- The giant squid uses a form of jet propulsion to escape predators.
Related words
Also appears in
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