helicopter
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 typically having a smaller set of blades on its tail to stabilize the aircraft.
Noun 4 meanings
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 typically having a smaller set of blades on its tail to stabilize the aircraft.
“We flew over the city in a helicopter.”
A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.
A whirling trick performed with devil sticks.
Verb 4 meanings
To transport by helicopter.
To travel by helicopter.
To rotate like a helicopter blade.
“helicoptering his jacket, helicoptering his arms”
To overprotect one's children, as a helicopter parent does.
“Near-synonym: hover”
Etymology
Borrowed from French hélicoptère, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (hélix, “spiral”) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”). Doublet of helicopteron. By surface analysis, helico- + -pter. The dragonfly sense is from a dragonfly's ability to hover and fly in any direction, like the flying machine.
Similar and opposite words
HELICOPTER at a glance
HELICOPTER has 10 letters and scores 17 points in Scrabble (H 4 + E 1 + L 1 + I 1 + C 3 + O 1 + P 3 + T 1 + E 1 + R 1) and 19 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #5,701 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with helicopter
All rhymes- AFTER8
- BETTER8
- WATER8
- LATER5
- MATTER8
- CENTER8
- CHARACTER16
- DAUGHTER13
- MINISTER10
- COMPUTER14
- LETTER6
- SISTER6
One letter away
- HELICOPTED18
Keep going
Related lists
Looking for a different word?
Type the letters you have and the Finder shows every word that fits.