spoiler

spoiler

1. a device fitted to an aircraft wing to increase drag and reduce lift. It is usually extended into the airflow to assist descent and banking

2. a similar device fitted to a car

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

spoiler

[′spȯi·lər]

(aerospace engineering)

A plate, series of plates, comb, tube, bar, or other device that projects into the airstream about a body to break up or spoil the smoothness of the flow, especially such a device that projects from the upper surface of an airfoil, giving an increased drag and a decreased lift.

(electromagnetism)

Rod grating mounted on a parabolic reflector to change the pencil-beam pattern of the reflector to a cosecant-squared pattern; rotating the reflector and grating 90° with respect to the feed antenna changes one pattern to the other.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

spoiler

A vertical spoiler projects upward into the airstream.

A plate, series of plates, comb, tube, bar, or other device that projects into the airstream about a body to break up or spoil the smoothness of the flow, especially such a device that projects from the upper surface of an airfoil, giving an increased drag and a decreased lift. Spoilers are normally movable and consist of two basic types: the flap spoiler, which is hinged along one edge and lies flush with the airfoil or body when not in use, and the retractable spoiler, which retracts edgewise into the body. In some cases, spoilers are linked to the ailerons and work in unison with the ailerons for improved lateral control at low speeds. In some aircraft, they have replaced ailerons. The spoilers are used as airbrakes, lift dampers, and a means of lateral control.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved

spoiler

(1)

A remark which reveals important plot elements from books or movies, thus denying the reader (of the article) the proper suspense when reading the book or watching the movie.

spoiler

(2)

Any remark which telegraphs the solution of a problem or puzzle, thus denying the reader the pleasure of working out the correct answer (see also interesting). Either sense readily forms compounds like "total spoiler", "quasi-spoiler" and even "pseudo-spoiler".

By convention, Usenet news articles which are spoilers in either sense should contain the word "spoiler" in the Subject: line, or guarantee via various tricks that the answer appears only after several screens-full of warning, or conceal the sensitive information via rot13, or some combination of these techniques.

This article is provided by FOLDOC - Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc.org)