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Helicopter: meaning, definitions and examples

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helicopter

 

[ ˈhɛlɪˌkɒptər ]

Noun
Oxford 3000 Transportations
Context #1 | Noun

in aviation

A type of aircraft that derives both lift and propulsion from one or more sets of horizontally revolving overhead rotors. Helicopters are capable of hovering in one place, moving in any direction, and landing vertically.

Synonyms

chopper, copter, whirlybird.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
helicopter

Formal situations, technical or aviation-related discussions.

  • The helicopter landed safely on the hospital roof
  • They used a helicopter to survey the area for any signs of damage
chopper

Casual conversations, sometimes in military contexts or in pop culture.

  • They called in a chopper for an emergency evacuation
  • In the movie scene, the hero jumps into a chopper and flies away
whirlybird

Very informal, often used humorously or in playful contexts.

  • Look at that whirlybird in the sky! He described his wild ride in a whirlybird to his friends
copter

Informal settings, often used in shorthand or abbreviations. Common in headlines or casual dialogues.

  • The news copter captured the footage of the traffic jam
  • Kids love playing with toy copters

Examples of usage

  • The helicopter flew low over the treetops.
  • The rescue team arrived by helicopter.
  • We could hear the sound of the helicopter approaching.
  • The helicopter landed on the rooftop.
  • She took a helicopter tour of the city.

Translations

Translations of the word "helicopter" in other languages:

🇵🇹 helicóptero

🇮🇳 हेलीकॉप्टर

🇩🇪 Hubschrauber

🇮🇩 helikopter

🇺🇦 гелікоптер

🇵🇱 helikopter

🇯🇵 ヘリコプター

🇫🇷 hélicoptère

🇪🇸 helicóptero

🇹🇷 helikopter

🇰🇷 헬리콥터

🇸🇦 مروحية

🇨🇿 vrtulník

🇸🇰 vrtuľník

🇨🇳 直升机

🇸🇮 helikopter

🇮🇸 þyrla

🇰🇿 тікұшақ

🇬🇪 ვერტმფრენი

🇦🇿 helikopter

🇲🇽 helicóptero

Etymology

The word 'helicopter' was coined in 1861 by Gustave de Ponton d'Amécourt, a French inventor. It combines the Greek words helix (spiral) and pteron (wing). Helicopters have evolved significantly since their invention, becoming crucial in military, rescue, and transportation operations.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,838 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.