Helicopter
/ˈhɛlɪkɒptər/
Definitions
2 meaningsAn aircraft that is lifted and moved by rotating horizontal blades.
/ˈhɛlɪkɒptər/
A type of aircraft.
The helicopter soared through the clear blue sky.
💡 Simply: A helicopter is like a flying machine with big spinning blades on top. They can go up, down, and sideways, making them super useful for getting places that are hard to reach, like mountains or tall buildings!
👶 For kids: A helicopter is a flying machine with spinning blades on top that help it go up and down.
More Examples
We took a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.
The rescue team dispatched a helicopter to find the lost hikers.
How It's Used
"The helicopter landed on the roof of the building."
"Helicopters are used for reconnaissance and troop transport."
"The rescue helicopter transported the injured hiker to the hospital."
To transport by helicopter.
/ˈhɛlɪkɒptər/
To transport or move something by helicopter.
The cargo was helicoptered to the island.
💡 Simply: To helicopter something means to move it using a helicopter, just like you might lift a toy with a toy crane!
👶 For kids: To helicopter something means to fly it somewhere using a helicopter.
More Examples
They helicoptered the injured to the nearest hospital.
The construction materials were helicoptered onto the mountaintop.
How It's Used
"The soldiers were helicoptered into the combat zone."
"The supplies were helicoptered to the remote village."
Idioms & expressions
helicopter parent
A parent who takes an overprotective or excessive interest in their children's lives.
"Her mom is such a helicopter parent; she calls her every hour."
From French *hélicoptère*, from Greek *helix* (spiral, turning) + *pteron* (wing). Coined in the late 19th century and popularized in the early 20th century.
The word 'helicopter' gained popularity in the early 20th century as the technology for vertical flight improved.
Memory tip
Think of the blades like a giant fan lifting the helicopter into the air.