Word Study
hypersonic
CIDE DICTIONARY
hypersonic, n. [Pref. hyper- + sonic.].
Pertaining to or moving at a speed greatly in excess of the speed of sound, usually meaning greater than mach 5. All speeds in excess of the speed of sound are supersonic , but to be hypersonic requires even higher speed. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
hypersonic, adj.
1 relating to speeds of more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).
2 relating to sound-frequencies above about a thousand million hertz.
1 relating to speeds of more than five times the speed of sound (Mach 5).
2 relating to sound-frequencies above about a thousand million hertz.
Derivative
hypersonically adv.
Etymology
HYPER-, after SUPERSONIC, ULTRASONIC
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