sonic barrier: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Specialized
Quick answer
What does “sonic barrier” mean?
The point at which an object moves at the speed of sound, causing a sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and often a sonic boom.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The point at which an object moves at the speed of sound, causing a sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and often a sonic boom.
A metaphorical term for any significant threshold or obstacle that, once crossed, leads to a dramatic change in conditions or perception.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both 'sonic barrier' and 'sound barrier' are understood and used in both varieties. 'Sound barrier' is slightly more common in everyday American English, while 'sonic barrier' may appear more in technical British contexts.
Connotations
No significant difference in connotation. Both terms imply a challenging physical or metaphorical limit to be broken.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. The phrase is domain-specific (aerospace, physics, metaphors in business/tech).
Grammar
How to Use “sonic barrier” in a Sentence
The pilot [verb] the sonic barrier.The aircraft approached [object] sonic barrier.Breaking [possessive] sonic barrier caused a boom.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sonic barrier” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sonic-barrier tests were conducted over the North Sea.
- A sonic-barrier breakthrough was announced.
American English
- The sonic-barrier research was funded by NASA.
- It was a sonic-barrier moment for the industry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor for a major market or innovation milestone: 'The startup hopes to break the sonic barrier with its new chip design.'
Academic
Used in physics and aerospace engineering textbooks and papers discussing transonic aerodynamics.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used in documentaries about aviation history or high-speed technology.
Technical
Standard term in aeronautics for the rapid change in aerodynamic forces near Mach 1.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sonic barrier”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sonic barrier”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sonic barrier”
- Using 'supersonic barrier' (incorrect—the barrier is at sonic speed, not beyond it).
- Misspelling as 'sonnic barrier'.
- Using it as a verb, e.g., 'The car sonic-barriered' (ungrammatical).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are essentially synonymous. 'Sonic barrier' is often perceived as slightly more technical, while 'sound barrier' is more common in general discourse.
Yes, it is frequently used as a metaphor for any significant and difficult-to-achieve threshold in technology, business, or social progress.
It is the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 metres per second (1,235 km/h or 767 mph) in dry air at 20°C. This speed is designated as Mach 1.
American test pilot Captain Chuck Yeager is officially credited with being the first to break the sonic barrier in level flight on October 14, 1947, in the Bell X-1 aircraft.
The point at which an object moves at the speed of sound, causing a sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and often a sonic boom.
Sonic barrier is usually technical / specialized in register.
Sonic barrier: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɒn.ɪk ˈbær.i.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsɑː.nɪk ˈbær.i.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Break the sonic barrier (to achieve a dramatic, threshold-crossing success)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a plane creating a massive, invisible wall of SOUND (sonic) that it must BREAK through. Sonic = sound, Barrier = wall.
Conceptual Metaphor
ACHIEVEMENT IS BREAKING THROUGH A BARRIER; LIMITS ARE PHYSICAL OBSTACLES.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary physical phenomenon associated with crossing the sonic barrier?