tail fin
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Related to tail fin: Pectoral fins, ventral fin
tail fin
also tail·fin (tāl′fĭn′)n.
1. A fin at the posterior part of the body of a fish, crustacean, whale, or other aquatic animal.
2. An ornamental projection shaped like a fin on the rear fender of an automobile. Also called fin1.
3. A fin at the tail end of an aerodynamic or hydrodynamic object such as an airplane or surfboard, used to provide directional control or stability.
tail′ fin`
n.
1. the terminal vertical fin of a fish.
2. See under fin 1 (def. 6).
[1675–85]
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Noun | 1. | ![]() stabilizer - airfoil consisting of a device for stabilizing an aircraft vertical tail - the vertical airfoil in the tail assembly of an aircraft |
2. | tail fin - one of a pair of decorations projecting above the rear fenders of an automobile auto, automobile, car, motorcar, machine - a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" | |
3. | ![]() fin - organ of locomotion and balance in fishes and some other aquatic animals heterocercal fin - a tail fin with unequal lobes in which the vertebral column turns upward into the larger lobe as in sharks homocercal fin - symmetrical tail fin extending beyond the end of the vertebral column as in most bony fishes fish - any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills; "the shark is a large fish"; "in the living room there was a tank of colorful fish" |