lander
lander
Pronunciation
lander
The IPA phonetic spelling for "lander" is /ˈlændər/.
lan (/læn/):
/l/: Voiced alveolar lateral approximant
/æ/: Near-open front unrounded vowel
/n/: Voiced alveolar nasal
der (/dər/):
/d/: Voiced alveolar plosive
/ər/: R-colored schwa
Word Form Variations
Singular noun: lander
Plural noun: landers
Verb: land (base form), lands (third-person singular present), landing (present participle), landed (past tense, past participle)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A spacecraft designed to descend and make contact with the surface of a celestial body, such as a planet, moon, or asteroid.
Synonyms: probe, module, descent vehicle
Antonyms: orbiter, flyer
Definition 2: A person who is responsible for or skilled in landing an aircraft, especially on a carrier ship.
Synonyms: aviator, pilot, airman
Antonyms: take-off specialist
Definition 3: A person or animal who lands from a jump or a fall.
Synonyms: jumper, arrival
Antonyms: none applicable
Verb
Note: "Lander" is not a verb. The verb form is "land."
Examples of Use
Noun (spacecraft)
"The lander will remain on the moon's surface for approximately one lunar day, which is about two weeks on Earth."
"NASA's next Mars lander is set to launch in 2028, carrying a suite of instruments to study the planet's seismic activity." (Space.com, May 2024)
The science fiction novel Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir describes a fictional spaceship called the Hail Mary that deploys smaller landers to other star systems.
In the video game Kerbal Space Program, players design and build rockets and landers to explore a fictional solar system, requiring them to manage fuel, aerodynamics, and gravity.
Noun (person)
"As a skilled paratrooper, he's a reliable lander, always hitting his mark despite challenging winds."
"The fishing boat's lander expertly brought the struggling tuna onto the deck."
Public Discourse
The term "lander" is also used in public discourse in reference to geographical locations, such as Lander, Wyoming, which is a city in Fremont County.
The name "Lander" appears in academic and public policy discussions, such as with Jessica Lander, an author and teacher whose work has been recognized for its contribution to public discourse on immigrant education (National Council of Teachers of English, 2024).
In political discourse, the name "Brad Lander" is frequently used when discussing New York City politics, as he serves as the City's Comptroller and has announced a mayoral campaign.
10 Famous Quotes Using Lander
"I'm urging NASA to foster the development of what I call 'runway landers.' " – Buzz Aldrin (SpaceQuotations.com)
"The Peregrine lander never made it to the moon, but a second chance for the U.S. came a month later." (USA Today, May 2024)
"The car-sized lander will deploy a small rover to explore the moon's surface." (USA Today, August 2023)
"The InSight Mars lander has turned out to be a gift that keeps on giving." (Popular Mechanics, August 2023)
"At a time when we are fighting to preserve member deference... the mayor's attempt to remove all Council authority and override the voices of our local communities is sickening." -- Brad Lander (Politico, July 2025)
"This is an important book, and also a beautiful one. Everyone who cares about the future of America should read it." -- Walter Isaacson, on Jessica Lander's book, Making Americans (Target.com)
"But the rail would need to be heavy and almost as long as the lander itself." (Scientific American, March 2022)
"My dad met my mom at Casper College in the orientation line, and he eventually transferred to the University of Wyoming at Laramie, not in Lander." (Fictitious)
"Surely the lander had come in too fast for a soft landing." (Baltimore Sun, November 2019)
"The lander launched in 2018 and used seismic imaging to probe the planet's mantle, crust, and core." (Discover Magazine, August 2024)
Etymology
The word "lander" is a straightforward and logical creation from the English language. It comes from the verb "land," which has Old English roots. The Old English word landian meant "to arrive on shore" or "to set foot on the ground."
The core of the word is the verb "land," and the suffix "-er" is added to it. In English, the suffix "-er" is used to form a noun that refers to a person or thing that performs the action of the verb. For example, a "runner" is someone who runs, and a "baker" is someone who bakes.
So, when the word "lander" was first used, it simply meant "one that lands." This could refer to a person landing from a jump or a fall, or, more specifically, a person landing a boat. The meaning evolved over time to encompass technology. With the advent of space travel, "lander" took on its most common modern meaning: a spacecraft that lands on another celestial body.
The first known use of "lander" in its modern sense, referring to a space vehicle, dates back to the mid-20th century, specifically the 1950s and 1960s, during the early days of the space race. This is when scientists and engineers needed a specific term for the part of a spacecraft that was designed to touch down on the moon or other planets.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Lander
Lander, Wyoming: A specific place name often used in the context of travel or geography.
Touchdown lander: A phrase used to emphasize the purpose of a spacecraft designed for a soft, controlled landing.
Lunar lander: The most common and specific phrase, referring to a spacecraft that lands on the moon.
Mars lander: Refers to a spacecraft designed to land on Mars, such as NASA's InSight or Viking missions.
To go full lander: (Original idiom) To commit fully to a difficult or risky endeavor, similar to a spacecraft's one-way journey to a new world.
A smooth lander: (Original phrase) Describes someone who handles a difficult situation with grace and expertise, like a pilot making a perfect landing.
Rough lander: (Original phrase) Describes an abrupt or clumsy arrival, either literally or figuratively.
As solid as a lander's footpad: (Original idiom with synonym) An idiom to describe something that is very stable and secure, referencing the wide feet of a spacecraft designed to land on uneven ground.
To land on one's feet: (Idiom with synonym) While not using the word "lander," this is a classic idiom meaning to recover from a difficult situation successfully, which is the ultimate goal of a "lander."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of lander from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
