propelled

Propelled is the past participle of propel, and is used as an adjective or verb to indicate that something has been driven forward by a source of force. The term derives from Latin propellere, meaning to push forward. In everyday usage, objects or vehicles can be described as being propelled by engines, oars, sails, missiles, or other forms of thrust.

In physics and engineering, propulsion is the mechanism by which an object gains forward motion. It typically involves the production of thrust, the reaction force that propels a body in the opposite direction of expelled mass or energy. Common propulsion methods include chemical propulsion (burning propellants to produce high-speed exhaust), mechanical propulsion (wheels or tracks converting torque into forward motion), and aerodynamic or hydrodynamic propulsion (air or water propulsion via dynamic lift or thrust). Electric propulsion uses motors or ion thrusters that generate thrust with electric power. Biological propulsion, such as a human running or a bacterium swimming, relies on muscular action or flagellar rotation to move the organism.

Propelled motion is central to transportation, space exploration, and many natural processes. Examples range from ships propelled by sails or engines to airplanes propelled by jets, rockets propelled by exhaust, and cells propelled by flagella. The word emphasizes the causal relation between a propulsion source and the resulting forward movement.