sound barrier: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to technical; most common in aviation, physics, and metaphorical use in journalism/business.
Quick answer
What does “sound barrier” mean?
The sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and other effects experienced by an aircraft or other object as it approaches the speed of sound.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and other effects experienced by an aircraft or other object as it approaches the speed of sound.
Any theoretical or practical limit that is difficult to surpass, often used metaphorically to describe a significant obstacle or breakthrough point in various fields (e.g., technology, sports, medicine).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more common in historical narratives of aviation in the US due to Chuck Yeager's 1947 flight.
Connotations
Both varieties carry connotations of human achievement, technological progress, and extreme challenge.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in technical contexts; metaphorical use is equally common in quality journalism in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “sound barrier” in a Sentence
[Aircraft/Pilot] broke the sound barrierThe challenge was akin to a sound barrierResearch focused on overcoming the sound barrierVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sound barrier” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The aeroplane's design was refined to cope with the stresses of the sound barrier.
- Breaking the sound barrier was a landmark in post-war aviation.
American English
- The jet fighter approached the sound barrier over the Mojave Desert.
- Innovation in medicine often involves hitting a sound barrier of biological complexity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The new chip design faces a thermal management sound barrier that requires a materials science breakthrough."
Academic
"The experiment sought to model the fluid dynamics encountered at the sound barrier."
Everyday
"It felt like we'd broken the sound barrier when we finally got the council's approval."
Technical
"Compressibility effects become dominant as an airfoil approaches the sound barrier."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sound barrier”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sound barrier”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sound barrier”
- Using "sound barrier" to refer to any loud noise barrier (e.g., a wall for traffic noise).
- Saying "pass the sound barrier" instead of the standard collocation "break/pierce the sound barrier."
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a tangible wall. It's a term for the collection of challenging aerodynamic phenomena that occur around Mach 1.
Yes. While originating in aviation, it is commonly used as a metaphor for any significant obstacle or breakthrough point in technology, sports, or business.
The 'sound barrier' is the challenge of reaching supersonic speed. The 'sonic boom' is the loud noise heard on the ground caused by the shock waves an object creates *after* it has broken the sound barrier.
American test pilot Chuck Yeager is officially credited with being the first to do so in level flight in the Bell X-1 aircraft on October 14, 1947.
The sudden increase in aerodynamic drag and other effects experienced by an aircraft or other object as it approaches the speed of sound.
Sound barrier is usually formal to technical; most common in aviation, physics, and metaphorical use in journalism/business. in register.
Sound barrier: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsaʊnd ˌbæriə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsaʊnd ˌbɛriər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To break the sound barrier: To achieve a dramatic, seemingly impossible breakthrough.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a wall of dense air (the 'barrier') that 'sounds' like a thunderclap when you break through it.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIMIT IS A PHYSICAL BARRIER; BREAKTHROUGH IS A FORCIBLE PENETRATION.
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, 'breaking the sound barrier' in a field like renewable energy would most likely mean: