noun

helicopter

HEHL-ee-kop-tuh

noun

An aircraft lifted and moved by one or more sets of rotating overhead blades, letting it hover, fly in any direction, or land vertically.

"A rescue helicopter airlifted the hikers off the mountain."

"The news station uses a helicopter to film traffic from above."

The winged seed of a tree such as maple or ash, which spins as it falls.

"The kids collected helicopters from the maple tree and threw them in the air."

verb

To transport someone or travel by helicopter.

"The injured climber was helicoptered to the nearest hospital."

Informally, to hover over and overprotect one's children ("helicopter parent").

"She tends to helicopter over her kids at the playground."

How to Use Helicopter

Learner’s notes

In 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

helicoptered past tense, helicopters plural, helicopters singular

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A rescue _____ airlifted the hikers off the mountain.

From French hélicoptère, built from Greek helix ("spiral") and pteron ("wing").

copter