tailwind

noun, verb — 3 senses

tailwind

noun

/ˈteɪlwɪnd/

Etymology From tail + wind.

Natural sciences, Nautical, Physical sciences, Physics, Transport A wind that blows in the same direction as the course taken by an aircraft, sailing ship, bird, etc.; a following wind.

Broadly, Figuratively A force that accelerates progress.

Antonyms: headwind, foul wind

tailwind

verb

Etymology From tail + wind.

Of a wind, to blow on a windmill or wind turbine in such a way that wind pressure is exerted on the wrong side of the sail or turbine assembly.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.