Spinnaker vs. Kite — What's the Difference?

A spinnaker is a sail designed specifically for sailing off the wind from a reaching course to a downwind, i.e. with the wind 90–180° off bow.

A kite is a tethered heavier-than-air or lighter-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors.

A large triangular headsail secured only at the corners, used on sailboats when running before the wind.

A light framework covered with cloth, plastic, or paper, designed to be flown in the wind at the end of a long string or multiple lines, especially for recreation.

(nautical) A sail supplemental to the mainsail, especially a triangular one, used on yachts for running before the wind.

A parafoil flown in a similar manner for recreation.

(nautical) To sail using a spinnaker

A power kite.

A large triangular sail set upon a boom, - used when running before the wind.

A quadrilateral with two distinct pairs of congruent, adjacent sides. Also called deltoid.

Large and usually triangular headsail; carried by a yacht as a headsail when running before the wind

Any of the light sails of a ship that are used only in a light wind.

Any of various graceful predatory birds of the family Accipitridae, having long pointed wings and often a forked tail.

An instance of check kiting.

To fly like a kite; soar or glide.

To get money or credit with a kite.

To use (a check) in furtherance of a check kiting scheme.

A bird of prey of the family Accipitridae.

Any bird of the subfamily Milvinae, with long wings and weak legs, feeding mostly on carrion and spending long periods soaring; specifically, the red kite (Milvus milvus) and the black kite (Milvus migrans).

A bird of the genus Elanus, having thin pointed wings, that preys on rodents and hunts by hovering; also, any bird of related genera in the subfamily Elaninae.

Some species in the subfamily Perninae.

(figuratively) A rapacious person.

A lightweight toy or other device, traditionally flat and shaped like a triangle with a segment of a circle attached to its base or like a quadrilateral (see sense 9), carried on the wind and tethered and controlled from the ground by one or more lines.

A tethered object which deflects its position in a medium by obtaining lift and drag in reaction with its relative motion in the medium.

(astrology) A planetary configuration wherein one planet of a grand trine is in opposition to an additional fourth planet.

A blank cheque; a fraudulent cheque, such as one issued even though there are insufficient funds to honour it, or one that has been altered without authorization.

An favour]] and without compensation.

A rider who is good at climbs but less good at descents.

(geometry) A polygon resembling the shape of a traditional toy kite (sense 3): a quadrilateral having two pairs of edges of equal length, the edges of each pair touching each other at one end.

An aeroplane or aircraft.

In a square-rigged ship: originally a sail positioned above a topsail; later a lightweight sail set above the topgallants, such as a studding sail or a jib topsail.

A supplementary sail to a mainsail.

The brill (Scophthalmus rhombus), a type of flatfish.

A (usually concealed) letter or oral message, especially one passed illegally into, within, or out of a prison.

The stomach; the belly.

(Egyptology) A measure of weight equivalent to 10 deben (about 0.32 ounces or 9.1 grams).

(transitive) To cause (something) to move upwards rapidly like a toy kite; also to cause (something, such as costs) to increase rapidly.

To tamper with a document or record by increasing the quantity of something beyond its proper amount so that the difference may be unlawfully retained; in particular, to alter a medical prescription for this purpose by increasing the number of pills or other items.

To keep ahead of (an enemy) in order to attack repeatedly from a distance, without exposing oneself to danger.

(ambitransitive) To (cause to) glide in the manner of a bird.

To manipulate like a toy kite; also, usually preceded by an inflection of go: to fly a toy kite.

To write or present (a cheque) on an account with insufficient funds, either to defraud or expecting that funds will become available by the time the cheque clears.

To steal.

(intransitive) To travel by kite, as when kitesurfing.

To move rapidly; to rush.

To deflect sideways in the water.

To pass a (usually concealed) letter or oral message, especially illegally into, within, or out of a prison.

Any raptorial bird of the subfamily Milvinæ, of which many species are known. They have long wings, adapted for soaring, and usually a forked tail.

Fig.: One who is rapacious.

A light frame of wood or other material covered with paper or cloth, for flying in the air at the end of a string.

A lofty sail, carried only when the wind is light.

A quadrilateral, one of whose diagonals is an axis of symmetry.

Fictitious commercial paper used for raising money or to sustain credit, as a check which represents no deposit in bank, or a bill of exchange not sanctioned by sale of goods; an accommodation check or bill.

The brill.

A form of drag to be towed under water at any depth up to about forty fathoms, which on striking bottom is upset and rises to the surface; - called also sentry.

The belly.

To raise money by "kites;" as, kiting transactions. See Kite, 6.

A bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value

A bank check drawn on insufficient funds at another bank in order to take advantage of the float

Plaything consisting of a light frame covered with tissue paper; flown in wind at end of a string

Any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals

Increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently;

Get credit or money by using a bad check;

Soar or fly like a kite;

Fly a kite;