pilot

PY-luht/ˈpaɪ.lət/

25 meanings of pilot

1
nouncountable
Someone who flies an airplane and controls where it goes.
Like a driver, but for an airplane in the sky.
The pilot told us to fasten our seatbelts before takeoff.
She trained for years to become a pilot.
Similaraviator, flier
Note
2
nouncountable
A first test episode of a show, made to see if the whole series should be made.
Like trying one cookie from a batch before deciding to bake more.
The network liked the pilot and ordered a full season.
We watched the pilot to decide if the show was worth following.
Note
3
verbtransitive
To try out a new idea or product on a small scale first.
Like tasting the soup before serving it to your guests.
The school decided to pilot the new reading program in two classrooms.
We pilot small changes before rolling them out to everyone.
Similartest, trial
4
adjective
Used as a first test of how well something works.
Like a practice run before the real thing.
The town tried a pilot program to see if the bus route would work.
Our pilot project lasted three months before the full launch.
Similarexperimental, trial
Note
5
verbtransitive
To fly an airplane or steer a boat, controlling where it goes.
Like steering a car, but in the air or on the water.
She learned to pilot a small plane over the mountains.
He can pilot the ferry across the bay by himself.
Similarfly, steer, navigate
Note
6
nouncountable
An expert in local waters who is hired to steer ships safely into and out of a harbor.
Like a local guide who knows every twist of a tricky road.
The pilot came aboard to steer the cargo ship through the busy harbor.
Without a pilot who knew the channel, the ship could have run aground.
7
nouncountable
A person whose job is to steer a ship and keep it on course.
Like the person who holds the steering wheel of a car.
The pilot held the wheel steady as the ship crossed the open sea.
A good pilot keeps the ship pointed straight into the waves.
Similarhelmsman, steersman
Note
8
nouncountable
Someone who leads others safely through a place that is strange or dangerous.
Like a guide who walks ahead of you through a dark cave.
The pilot led the travelers through the dark forest to safety.
They hired a pilot to guide them across the desert.
Similarguide, escort
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9
nouncountable
A small flame that stays burning to light a bigger flame when needed.
Like a tiny flame that waits to start a bigger fire.
The pilot went out, so the heater wouldn't turn on.
He lit the pilot again with a long match.
Note
10
verbtransitive
To lead a person to a place, showing them the way.
Like taking someone by the hand and leading them to the right room.
A waiter came to pilot us to our table.
She offered to pilot the new student around the school.
Similarguide, lead, steer, usher, escort

11
verbtransitive
To direct and steer a vessel safely through the waters along a coast.
Like helping a big truck back safely into a tight parking space.
An expert was hired to pilot the freighter into the harbor.
Tugboats helped him pilot the tanker past the rocks.
Similarguide, steer, navigate
12
nouncountable
Something done as a small test before doing the full thing.
Like a test drive before you decide to buy the car.
The free week was a pilot to see if people liked the service.
They ran a small pilot before opening the store everywhere.
Similartrial, test, experiment
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13
nounEuropecountable
A driver who races cars against others in competitions.
Like a runner in a race, but driving a car at high speed.
The pilot took the lead on the final lap.
Each pilot checked the car before the race began.
Similardriver, racer
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14
nouncolloquialAustraliacountable
A car or truck that drives in front of a very wide load to warn other drivers.
Like a friend who walks ahead in a crowd to clear a path for you.
A pilot led the wide load slowly along the highway.
Two pilots guided the giant crane down the narrow road.
Similarescort
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15
nounAustraliacountable
A person who drives the warning vehicle that travels ahead of a very wide load.
Like a crossing guard who walks ahead to keep people safe.
The pilot signaled to oncoming drivers that a huge load was coming.
He works as a pilot, guiding wide trucks through town.
Similarescort
Note
16
adjective
Describing a car or truck that drives ahead of a very wide load to warn others.
Like a flag that warns people something big is coming.
A pilot car led the way as the huge crane rolled past.
They added a pilot truck behind the long trailer for extra safety.
Similarlead
17
adjective
Describing a small part or signal that turns on or controls a bigger machine.
Like a small switch that turns on a big machine.
The pilot light keeps the heater ready to switch on.
A small pilot valve opens the big water gate.
18
nouncountablebefore a noun
A steady tone sent through a communication system to help control or keep signals in time.
Like a steady drumbeat that keeps musicians playing together.
The radio uses a pilot to keep the stereo sound lined up.
Engineers sent a steady pilot down the line to test the timing.
Note
19
nouncountable
A book that gives sailors directions for steering safely along a coast or into a port.
Like a guidebook that tells travelers which roads are safe to drive.
The skipper read the pilot to learn the depths near the rocks.
Every chart table had a worn pilot for that stretch of coast.
20
nouncountable
The metal frame on the front of a train engine that pushes things off the tracks.
Like a snowplow blade, but on the front of a train.
The pilot at the front of the engine swept a fallen branch off the rails.
Old locomotives had a pointed pilot to push stray animals aside.
Similarcowcatcher
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21
verbtransitive
To run as the front engine on a train pulled by two engines.
Like the lead dog in a sled team, pulling at the front.
A second locomotive was added to pilot the train over the mountain pass.
On steep sections, a tank engine would pilot the express to help it climb.
Similarlead
Note
22
nouncountable
A short tip at the end of a cutting tool that fits into a hole to keep the tool centered.
Like a guide peg that slides into a hole to keep a tool lined up.
The pilot slipped into the drilled hole and kept the cutter straight.
He swapped the pilot for a wider one to match the bigger hole.
23
nouncountable
A small tunnel dug first to test the ground before a larger tunnel is built.
Like digging a small test hole before making a big one.
Miners dug a narrow pilot to check the rock before widening the tunnel.
The pilot showed where water might leak into the main tunnel.
Note
24
nouncountable
A device used to find out how far a compass reading is wrong.
Like a tool that checks if your clock is running fast or slow.
The navigator used a pilot to find the error in the ship's compass.
A pilot can show how far off the compass is pointing.
25
nouncountable
A person who flies a kite on a string.
Like someone holding strings to control something high in the sky.
The pilot tugged the string to make the kite climb higher.
A skilled pilot can keep a kite in the air for hours.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came through French and Italian words for a ship's steerer, going back to a Greek word for an oar.