Plain English Meaning
Slowing down quickly over a short period. The airplane loses speed fast — much faster than it would in a normal power reduction.
Full Definition
A sudden, significant decrease in airspeed or ground speed over a very short period of time. In multiengine flight, the term is used to describe the abrupt loss of forward speed an airplane experiences after the failure of an engine, particularly during takeoff or initial climb, due to the combined effect of lost thrust and increased drag.
Context Anchor
Seen in emergency , , braking, and crash-survival discussions, especially when the airplane may stop faster than normal.