skylab: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Historical
Quick answer
What does “skylab” mean?
The first U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The first U.S. space station, launched by NASA in 1973.
Often used to refer to the Skylab space station specifically, but can also evoke the era of early space station development or, colloquially, any large, prominent overhead structure (humorous or metaphorical).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; awareness may vary slightly based on historical media coverage.
Connotations
Primarily historical/scientific. In both dialects, can humorously denote something large and potentially unstable overhead.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to historical or space-related contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “skylab” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun] (subject/object)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “skylab” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Skylab-era technology
American English
- a Skylab-style module
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in history of science or aerospace engineering contexts.
Everyday
Rare, except in historical reference or humorous comparison ('This clutter is a real Skylab waiting to fall').
Technical
Standard term for the specific 1970s NASA space station program.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “skylab”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “skylab”
- Using lowercase ('skylab') in formal contexts where it is a proper noun.
- Using it as a common noun for any space station (except humorously).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Skylab re-entered Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated in 1979, with debris falling over the Indian Ocean and Western Australia.
Only in very informal, humorous contexts to mean a large, precarious overhead object. In formal writing, it should always be capitalized as a proper noun.
Skylab was a single-module, short-term US station operational in the 1970s. The ISS is a permanently inhabited, multi-module international facility that has been operational since 2000.
It was America's first space station and its dramatic, uncontrolled re-entry was a major global news event.
The first U.
Skylab is usually technical / historical in register.
Skylab: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskaɪlæb/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskaɪˌlæb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the SKY and a LABoratory combined in space: SKY-LAB.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LARGE, UNWIELDY OBJECT OVERHEAD (based on fears during its uncontrolled re-entry in 1979).
Practice
Quiz
What was Skylab?