TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
FLYING SAUCER [4 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2025-03-14
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Interplanetary Space Exploration
- Surveillance, Detection and Reconnaissance (Military)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- unidentified flying object
1, record 1, English, unidentified%20flying%20object
correct, noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
- UFO 2, record 1, English, UFO
correct, noun
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- flying saucer 3, record 1, English, flying%20saucer
noun
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[An] aerial object ... not readily identifiable to the observer. 4, record 1, English, - unidentified%20flying%20object
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The pilot reported seeing a UFO flying over Kansas. 5, record 1, English, - unidentified%20flying%20object
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The terms "UFO" (Unidentified Flying Object) and "UAP" (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) refer to the same concept but differ in scope and modern usage. "UFO" traditionally refers to any object in the sky that cannot be immediately identified. The term has long been associated with extraterrestrial spacecraft in popular culture, though it technically encompasses any unexplained airborne object. "UAP", on the other hand, is a more recent term adopted by government and scientific agencies to describe unexplained aerial events without the extraterrestrial connotations associated with "UFO." 6, record 1, English, - unidentified%20flying%20object
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Exploration interplanétaire
- Surveillance, détection et reconnaissance (Militaire)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- objet volant non identifié
1, record 1, French, objet%20volant%20non%20identifi%C3%A9
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
- ovni 2, record 1, French, ovni
correct, masculine noun
- OVNI 3, record 1, French, OVNI
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
[...] objet [...] aperçu dans l'atmosphère et dont les témoins n'ont pu identifier la nature. 4, record 1, French, - objet%20volant%20non%20identifi%C3%A9
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] l'acronyme «ovni» [...] désigne des phénomènes vraisemblablement matériels, observés à une distance variable du sol, et dont la nature n'est pas (encore) déterminée. Rien de nécessairement extraterrestre [...] 5, record 1, French, - objet%20volant%20non%20identifi%C3%A9
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Exploración interplanetaria
- Vigilancia, detección y reconocimiento (Militar)
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- objeto volador no identificado
1, record 1, Spanish, objeto%20volador%20no%20identificado
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
- ovni 2, record 1, Spanish, ovni
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
- objeto volante no identificado 1, record 1, Spanish, objeto%20volante%20no%20identificado
correct, masculine noun
- ovni 2, record 1, Spanish, ovni
correct, masculine noun
- ovni 2, record 1, Spanish, ovni
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
objeto volador no identificado; objeto volante no identificado; ovni: El término "ovni", acrónimo de "objeto volador/volante no identificado", ha pasado a ser un sustantivo común, por lo que lo adecuado es escribirlo enteramente con letras minúsculas. [...] Aunque en su origen esta voz era un acrónimo, una sigla que puede pronunciarse como una palabra, ya se ha incorporado al léxico común del idioma y hoy se escribe con todas las letras en minúsculas. [...] Sobre el plural, cabe añadir que, mientras son siglas, lo adecuado es no pluralizar en su forma escrita el término en sí [...] Sin embargo, cuando [las siglas] están ya lexicalizadas, al pasar a ser sustantivos comunes, forman el plural de acuerdo con las normas generales del español ("ovnis", "pymes", "láseres"). 1, record 1, Spanish, - objeto%20volador%20no%20identificado
Record 2 - internal organization data 2008-01-10
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Types of Aircraft
- Surveillance, Detection and Reconnaissance (Military)
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- flying saucer
1, record 2, English, flying%20saucer
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
... to demonstrate the capability of its flying saucer, or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), to hover above its control station, providing a surveillance platform for convoys or security force bases. 2, record 2, English, - flying%20saucer
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Types d'aéronefs
- Surveillance, détection et reconnaissance (Militaire)
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- soucoupe volante
1, record 2, French, soucoupe%20volante
feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2006-05-09
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Explosives and Pyrotechnical Materials (Industries)
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- tourbillon 1, record 3, English, tourbillon
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- flying saucer 1, record 3, English, flying%20saucer
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
An ignited shell that spins like a top and bounces across the skyline in a topsy-turvy dance as it rises. 1, record 3, English, - tourbillon
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Explosifs et artifices (Industries)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- soucoupe volante
1, record 3, French, soucoupe%20volante
feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
- girandole 1, record 3, French, girandole
feminine noun
- tourbillon 1, record 3, French, tourbillon
masculine noun
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Artifice de divertissement qui comporte plusieurs jets qui, au fonctionnement, l'animent d'un mouvement rotatif et ascensionnel. 1, record 3, French, - soucoupe%20volante
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 1986-08-21
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Luge, Bobsledding and Skeleton
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- arctic coaster
1, record 4, English, arctic%20coaster
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- flying saucer 1, record 4, English, flying%20saucer
correct
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Luge, bobsleigh et skeleton
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- soucoupe glissante
1, record 4, French, soucoupe%20glissante
correct, proposal, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Sorte de grande soucoupe parabolique dont les enfants se servent pour glisser sur des pentes glacées. 1, record 4, French, - soucoupe%20glissante
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
L'expression est formée sur le modèle de soucoupe volante. 1, record 4, French, - soucoupe%20glissante
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
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