English Explanatory Dictionary

helicopter

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An aircraft that is borne along by one or more sets of long rotating blades which allow it to hover, move in any direction including reverse, or land; and typically having a smaller set of blades on its tail to stabilize the aircraft.
  2. A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
  3. The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.
  4. A dragonfly; so named due to its resemblance to a helicopter (sense 1).
  5. A whirling trick performed with devil sticks.
  6. A breakdance move in which the dancer spins on the floor while extending the legs to resemble the blades of a helicopter.
verb
  1. To transport by helicopter.
  2. To travel by helicopter.
  3. To rotate like a helicopter blade.
  4. To overprotect one's children, as a helicopter parent does.

Pronunciation

/ˈheliˌkɔptə(ɹ)/ /ˈhɛl.iˌkɒp.tə(ɹ)/ /ˈhɛl.ɪˌkɒp.tə(ɹ)/ /ˈhɛlɪˌkɑptɜɹ/ /ˈhilɪˌkɑptɜɹ/ En-au-helicopter.ogg

Word forms

helicopter helicopters helicoptering helicoptered

Etymology

Borrowed from French hélicoptère, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (hélix, “spiral”) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”). Doublet of helicopteron. By surface analysis, helico- + -pter. The dragonfly sense is from a dragonfly's ability to hover and fly in any direction, like the flying machine.

Synonyms

chopper copter eggbeater ghetto bird heli helo huey rotary-wing aircraft whirlybird samara power trowel trowel machine hover

Derived words

air ambulance helicopter antihelicopter Chinese helicopter copter -copter free helicopter ride heli heli- helichopper helicopter bucket helicopter carrier helicopter drop helicopter ear helicopterful helicoptering helicopterlike helicopter mom helicopter money helicopter parent helicopter parenting helicopter seed helicopter shot helicoptery heliport helitack helo jellycopter roflcopter telecopter
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