1. a rocket engine or jet engine that provides thrust to propel a spacecraft, aircraft, or vehicle
Usage: aerospace; technical
2. a person who pushes forward aggressively or energetically
Usage: informal

Examples

• The spacecraft’s thrusters fired to adjust its orbit around Mars.
• Small attitude thrusters help control the satellite’s position.
• The submarine’s bow thruster made docking easier in tight spaces.
• She’s a real thruster in the business world, always pursuing new opportunities.
• The rocket’s main thruster provided the power needed for launch.
• Engineers tested the thruster’s performance in the vacuum chamber.