helicopter

Pluralhelicopters

Formshelicopters, helicoptering, helicoptered

1. 1
   nouncountable

   An aircraft that flies using large spinning blades on top, letting it hover, move any direction, or land.

   Like a giant spinning fan that lifts a flying machine into the air.

   The helicopter landed gently on the hospital roof.

   We watched a helicopter hover above the slow traffic.

   Similarchopper

   Note
2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To carry people or things from one place to another using a helicopter.

   Like giving someone a ride, but in a helicopter instead of a car.

   Rescuers helicoptered the injured hikers to the nearest hospital.

   The army will helicopter supplies into the flooded village.

   Similarairlift, fly

   Note
3. 3
   verbintransitive

   To travel from place to place by riding in a helicopter.

   Like taking a bus, but flying in a helicopter instead.

   The tourists helicoptered over the canyon at sunrise.

   We will helicopter to the remote lodge tomorrow.

   Similarfly

4. 4
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To watch over your children too closely and control too much of what they do.

   Like a hen that never lets its chicks out of sight.

   Some parents helicopter so much that their kids never learn to solve problems.

   She helicoptered her teenagers, texting them every single hour.

   Similarhover, overprotect, micromanage, coddle

   Note
5. 5
   verbintransitive

   To spin around fast, the way a helicopter's blades turn.

   Like a spinning top whirling round and round.

   The seed pods helicopter to the ground in the fall breeze.

   His arms helicoptered wildly as he tried to keep his balance.

   Similarspin, whirl, twirl, spiral

   Note
6. 6
   nouncountable

   The winged seed of trees like the maple, which spins as it falls to the ground.

   Like a tiny spinning blade carrying a seed down to the ground.

   A helicopter twirled down from the maple and landed in the grass.

   The kids gathered helicopters falling from the old elm tree.

   Similarsamara, key

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   A breakdance move where the dancer spins on the floor with the legs stretched out like turning blades.

   He dropped to the floor and pulled off a perfect helicopter.

   Learning the helicopter took her months of patient practice.

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable

   A power machine with spinning blades used to smooth and spread wet concrete.

   Like a big floor polisher that smooths wet concrete.

   The crew ran a helicopter over the fresh concrete to smooth it.

   They rented a helicopter to finish the new concrete floor.

9. 9
   nounslangcountable

   A dragonfly, a long-bodied flying insect with two pairs of thin, clear wings.

   Like a tiny flying machine darting back and forth over the water.

   A bright blue helicopter darted over the pond and snatched a fly.

   Helicopters hovered above the reeds all afternoon, then zipped away.

   Similardragonfly

   Note
10. 10
    nouncountable

    A spinning trick done with devil sticks, where the center stick whirls round and round.

    She learned the helicopter after weeks of practice with her devil sticks.

    His helicopter sent the stick spinning fast between the two handsticks.

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