Spacesuits

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A specialized garment designed to protect astronauts from the harsh conditions of outer space
2. An advanced suit providing life support, thermal insulation, and radiation shielding for space missions
3. A complex outfit that enables human mobility and survival in the vacuum of space while accommodating the space environment's challenges

Etymology: Spacesuits are a compound of "space" and "suit," and the plural simply applies the regular -s ending to the singular "spacesuit." The compound joins two ordinary English words, so its making is transparent: "space" in the sense of the region beyond Earth's atmosphere, and "suit" in its old sense of a set of garments worn together. The combination describes exactly what the object is, a garment for the void. The plural form covers the whole family of such garments, from the pressurised suits worn during rocket launches and spacewalks to the specialised versions designed for different missions and environments. Because the word names a category rather than a single item, it is used whenever more than one suit is meant, as in the crew's suits being checked before launch.

Synonyms: space suits, extravehicular mobility units, space gear