noun / verb
helicopter
HEL-ih-kahp-ter/ˈhelɪkɑːptər/
An aircraft capable of hovering through rotating overhead blades.
A helicopter hovers above the field as its blades spin.
Etymology
The “spiral wing” name originally described a proposed flying machine that would gain lift from spiral aerofoils. It was later transferred to aircraft lifted by rotating blades.
In context
… we sort of get everything going and fire up the helicopter and the blades are spinning …
More examples
- The hospital has a rooftop landing pad for helicopters.
- Rescue crews helicopter injured hikers to the nearest hospital.
- She tries not to helicopter over her children during homework.
Forms
helicopter · helicopters · helicoptered · helicoptering
Similar words
- chopper
- An informal name for the same kind of aircraft.
- rotorcraft
- A broader category that includes helicopters and other rotor-lift aircraft.