astronaut

[as-truh-nawt, -not] /ˈæs trəˌnɔt, -ˌnɒt/
noun
1.
a person engaged in or trained for spaceflight.
Origin
1925-30; astro- + (aero)naut, probably via French astronaute; see astronautical
Can be confused
astronaut, cosmonaut.
Examples from the web for astronauts
  • Its primary goal was to test parachutes and other equipment for pilots and astronauts.
  • astronauts must bring what they need, including oxygen, because they cannot rely on their environment to provide it.
  • Smashed bits of space equipment orbit along with items dropped by astronauts, including tools and the odd glove.
  • Three astronauts were on board, with their mission expected to last about three days.
  • Even if astronauts return to the moon, though, the means of getting them there must still be decided.
  • Sending astronauts into the solar system would require a beefier rocket than any currently operating.
  • Their whole existence is centered on the training of astronauts and the operation of manned missions.
  • astronauts who reach the facility aboard one of these missions typically live and work in orbit for about six months.
  • It's probably no surprise that today's astronauts are discouraged from drinking on the job.
  • Of course, the famous pair were hardly the first animal astronauts.
British Dictionary definitions for astronauts

astronaut

/ˈæstrəˌnɔːt/
noun
1.
a person trained for travelling in space See also cosmonaut
Word Origin
C20: from astro- + -naut from Greek nautēs sailor, on the model of aeronaut
Word Origin and History for astronauts

astronaut

n.

coined 1929 in science fiction, popularized from 1961 by U.S. space program, from astro- + nautes "sailor" (see naval). French astronautique (adj.) had been coined 1927 by "J.H. Rosny," pen name of Belgian-born science fiction writer Joseph Henri Honoré Boex (1856-1940) on model of aéronautique, and Astronaut was used in 1880 as the name of a fictional spaceship by English writer Percy Greg (1836-1889) in "Across the Zodiac."

astronauts in Culture

astronaut definition


A crew member of a space mission launched by the United States. (See Apollo program and Mercury program.)