Helicopter

Pronunciation

• AusE IPA: /ˈheliËŒkÉ”ptÉ™(ɹ)/
• UK IPA: /ˈhÉ›l.iËŒkÉ’p.tÉ™(ɹ)/, /ˈhÉ›l.ɪˌkÉ’p.tÉ™(ɹ)/
• US IPA: /ˈhÉ›lɨˌkÉ‘ptÉš/

Origin

Borrowing from fr hélicoptère, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (helix, "spiral") + πτερόν (pteron, "wing").

Full definition of helicopter

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 having a smaller set of blades on its tail that stabilize the aircraft.We flew over the city in a helicopter.
2. a powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
3. a winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple

Synonyms

• (aircraft) chopper informal, copter informal, eggbeater slang, rotary-wing aircraft technical, whirlybird slang
• (trowelling device) power trowel, trowel machine
• (winged fruit) samara, whirlybird

Verb

1. (transitive) To transport by helicopter.
2. (intransitive) To travel by helicopter.

Derived terms

• helicopter parent