Word
thruster
US/ˈθɹəstɝ/
UK/θɹˈʌstɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small engine on a ship or spacecraft used to control its direction or speed. You use these to make careful movements, like when a boat is docking.
n. a small propulsive engine or nozzle used for station-keeping, attitude control, or low-thrust maneuvers. In nautical contexts, it typically refers to a transverse propulsion device used to improve maneuverability in tight spaces.
Examples
“The pilot used the bow thruster to move the ship closer to the dock.”
“Modern cruise ships rely on powerful side thrusters to navigate narrow ports without the assistance of tugboats.”
“Precise docking maneuvers require the coordinated firing of multiple thrusters to counteract the effects of strong currents and wind against the vessel's hull.”
Examples
simple
“The pilot used the bow thruster to move the ship closer to the dock.”
contextual
“Modern cruise ships rely on powerful side thrusters to navigate narrow ports without the assistance of tugboats.”
complex
“Precise docking maneuvers require the coordinated firing of multiple thrusters to counteract the effects of strong currents and wind against the vessel's hull.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “thruster” in context.
Verb
01. activate thruster
“Ground control sent a command to activate the backup thruster.”
verb + noun
02. engage thruster
“The captain ordered the crew to engage the bow thruster.”
verb + noun
03. fire thruster
“The probe will fire its thruster for ten seconds to slow down.”
verb + noun
04. thruster fail
“The mission was aborted after a primary thruster failed.”
noun + verb
05. thruster ignite
“We watched on the monitor as the main thruster ignited.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. lateral thruster
“Large ships often use a lateral thruster to navigate tight harbors.”
adj + noun
07. maneuvering thruster
“The pilot engaged the maneuvering thruster to dock with the station.”
adj + noun
08. powerful thruster
“The spacecraft used a powerful thruster to adjust its trajectory.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. burst from thruster
“A short burst from the thruster corrected the satellite's spin.”
noun + prep + noun
10. equipped with bow thrusters
“Modern cruise ships are equipped with bow thrusters for easier docking.”
11. fire a short burst
“The pilot had to fire a short burst from the thrusters to stay on course.”
Usage
Commonly appears in compound nouns like 'bow thruster' or 'stern thruster'.
Real-World Examples
“Instead of having separate fuel for chemical thrusters and electrical thrusters, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study suggests that a single propellant can power both kinds of systems.” “Electrospray thrusters are dime-sized rockets that use electric fields to charge up a liquid propellant’s particles, which are then shot into space as a thrust-generating spray.” “Ionic thrusters for aircraft work by generating a high-voltage electrical field that strips electrons from air molecules, “ionizing” them and pushing them away behind an aircraft as ionic wind, to move the craft forward.” “Tesla is set to unveil its long-delayed second-generation Roadster on October 1st, potentially featuring a groundbreaking "SpaceX Package" with cold-gas thrusters.” Etymology
From thrust + -er, the term was coined in 1980 by Simon Anderson to identify his three-fin surfboard design. Though Anderson neglected to trademark the name, it was adopted almost immediately as the generic label for any board featuring that specific configuration of fins.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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