noun

parachute

PA-ruh-shoot

noun

A fabric device that fills with air to slow the fall of a person or object dropped from height.

"The skydiver pulled the cord and her parachute opened seconds later."

verb

To descend using a parachute.

"The soldiers parachuted into the combat zone at dawn."

To place someone into a role or organization without them having worked their way up through it.

"The new CEO was parachuted in from a rival firm."

How to Use Parachute

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe fabric device that slows a fall from the sky; also used figuratively for dropping someone into a job or situation suddenly.

Common mistake

A "golden parachute" refers to a generous severance deal for departing executives, not an actual parachute.

Common pairings

a golden parachute parachute in open a parachute

parachuted past tense, parachutes plural, parachutes singular

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The skydiver pulled the cord and her _____ opened seconds later.

From French parachute, combining para- ("protection against") and chute ("fall").

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