Definition of "contrail" []

• A visible trail of streaks of condensed water vapor or ice crystals sometimes forming in the wake of an aircraft. Also called vapor trail. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "A bright dot, and then one -- you know, the term contrail doesn't really apply, because that's kind of streaking plasma, superheated ionized air."
• "When conditions are right they leave a "contrail" of vaporized lube in the air."
• "Then your "contrail" becomes some kind of Care Bears inspired James Bond-esque defensive countermeasure."