1851, originally in reference to airships and balloons, from air (n.1) + craft (n.); a term from boating, as were many early aviation words. Of airplanes from 1907 and since 1930s exclusively of them. Aircraft carrier is attested from 1919 (H.M.S. Hermes, launched September 1919, was the first ship to be built from the hull up as an aircraft carrier).
权威例句
1. The onslaught of orders should keep aircraft manufacturers busy for some time.
纷至沓来的订单应该会让飞机制造商忙碌一段时间。
2. Since its inception the company has produced 53 different aircraft designs.
该公司自成立以来已经完成了53种不同样式飞行器的设计。
3. A light aircraft crash-landed on a putting green yesterday.
一架轻型飞机昨天在一个高尔夫球场的球洞区紧急降落了。
4. He had returned to England in an aircraft carrier no less.
他竟然坐航空母舰回的英格兰。
5. The airlines have invested enormous sums in new, quieter aircraft.