wind tunnel

wind tunnel (plural wind tunnels)

1. A test facility through which air is forced in a controlled manner so as to study the effects of flow around airfoils, aircraft, motor cars etc.

   Synonym: air tunnel

   • 2023 November 29, Peter Plisner, “The winds of change in Catesby Tunnel”, in RAIL, number 997, page 56:

     But unlike many other tunnels that lay idle and decaying, Catesby has now found a new use as an aerodynamic wind tunnel for the motor industry.

2. (by extension) A phenomenon when air currents are naturally funneled through spaces between high-rise buildings, alleyways, or sets of walls.

• water tunnel