Definition

The distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip of a bird or an aircraft.

Example

The eagle has a wingspan of about six feet, allowing it to soar gracefully through the sky.

Conversation

Did you know that the eagle has an impressive wingspan?

Really? How wide is it?

It's about six to seven feet across!

That's amazing! I can only imagine how majestic it looks in the sky.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Wingspan is formed from "wing" (from Old English "wenge", meaning the limb of a bird used for flight) and "span" (from Old English "span", meaning to stretch or extend). The word "wingspan" refers to the distance from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other wing when fully extended.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'wing' as the part of a bird that allows it to fly, and 'span' as the distance it covers when stretched out. This helps you remember that 'wingspan' measures how far a bird's wings reach.

Visually Confused Words