helicopter
HEHL-ee-kop-tuh
Helicopter (noun) means an aircraft lifted and moved by one or more sets of rotating overhead blades, letting it hover, fly in any direction, or land vertically. Example: “The helicopter hovered above the field before landing beside the barn.”
noun
1
An aircraft lifted and moved by one or more sets of rotating overhead blades, letting it hover, fly in any direction, or land vertically.
"The helicopter hovered above the field before landing beside the barn."
"A rescue helicopter airlifted the hikers off the mountain."
"The news station uses a helicopter to film traffic from above."
2
The winged seed of a tree such as maple or ash, which spins as it falls.
"A helicopter spun slowly down from the sycamore and landed in my hair."
"We watched the maple helicopters twirl to the ground in the autumn wind."
"The kids collected helicopters from the maple tree and threw them in the air."
verb
1
To transport someone or travel by helicopter.
"Supplies were helicoptered to the flooded village when the roads closed."
"They helicoptered the film crew to the top of the mountain."
"The injured climber was helicoptered to the nearest hospital."
2
Informally, to hover over and overprotect one's children ("helicopter parent").
"Try not to helicopter over your teenager while she learns to drive."
"Some parents helicopter so much that their children never learn to cope alone."
"She tends to helicopter over her kids at the playground."
How to use helicopter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rotor-powered aircraft that can hover and fly straight up or down — or, casually, to hover over and overprotect someone.
Common pairings
rescue helicopter
helicopter parent
travel by helicopter
helicopter pad
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Word forms
- Plural
- helicopters
- Third person singular
- helicopters
- Past tense
- helicoptered
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The _____ hovered above the field before landing beside the barn.
Etymology
From French hélicoptère, built from Greek helix ("spiral") and pteron ("wing").
Related words
Rhymes for helicopter
See all rhymes for helicopter →Frequently asked questions
What does “helicopter” mean?
The word “helicopter” means an aircraft lifted and moved by one or more sets of rotating overhead blades, letting it hover, fly in any direction, or land vertically. In plain terms, a rotor-powered aircraft that can hover and fly straight up or down — or, casually, to hover over and overprotect someone.
How do you pronounce “helicopter”?
“Helicopter” is pronounced HEHL-ee-kop-tuh (/ˈhɛlɪˌkɑptɜɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “helicopter” in a sentence?
Here is “helicopter” used in a sentence: “A rescue helicopter airlifted the hikers off the mountain.”
What part of speech is “helicopter”?
Depending on how it is used, “helicopter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “helicopter” come from?
The word “helicopter” comes from French. From French hélicoptère, built from Greek helix ("spiral") and pteron ("wing").
Is “helicopter” a common word?
“Helicopter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “helicopter” have?
“Helicopter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an aircraft lifted and moved by one or more sets of rotating overhead blades, letting it hover, fly in any direction, or land vertically.
What is the difference between a "helicopter" and an "aeroplane"?
A helicopter is lifted and moved by rotating overhead blades, letting it hover and take off vertically, while an aeroplane uses fixed wings and needs a runway to gain speed for lift. Only the helicopter can stay still in the air.
Why are the spinning seeds of maple trees called "helicopters"?
The winged seeds of trees such as maple and ash are nicknamed "helicopters" because they spin as they fall, much like a helicopter's rotor blades. The spinning slows their descent and helps the wind carry them farther.
What are informal words for a "helicopter"?
Common informal terms include "chopper," "copter," and "whirlybird." These are casual synonyms used in everyday speech rather than in technical or aviation contexts.
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