# helicopter
## English
### 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.

### Pronunciation

* (General Australian) IPA: /ˈheliˌkɔptə(ɹ)/
* (UK) IPA: /ˈhɛl.iˌkɒp.tə(ɹ)/, /ˈhɛl.ɪˌkɒp.tə(ɹ)/
* (General American) IPA: /ˈhɛlɪˌkɑptɜɹ/
* (General American, rare, dated) IPA: /ˈhilɪˌkɑptɜɹ/
* Audio (General Australian):(file)

### Noun

helicopter (plural helicopters)
* (aircraft) 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.
    Hypernym: aircraft
    We flew over the city in a helicopter.
** 2020 December 5, Nic Robertson, “Saudi Arabia has changed beyond recognition. But will tourists want to visit?”, in CNN‎:I’ve flown in flimsy microlights, soaring serenely above rich farmland. I’ve ridden tactical combat helicopters missions, skimming the desert floor and banking hard around sand dunes.
** 2025 February 6, Alexandra Skores, Hanna Park, Andy Rose and Holly Yan, “Senators grill investigators on the midair collision between an American Airlines plane and a Black Hawk military helicopter”, in CNN‎:Investigators trying to determine what caused last week’s deadly midair collision between a US military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane near Washington, DC, briefed lawmakers Thursday on what they’ve learned after combing through data from both aircraft and air traffic control.
* A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
* (botany) The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.
* (zoology, slang) A dragonfly; so named due to its resemblance to a helicopter (sense 1).
* A whirling trick performed with devil sticks.
* (dance) A breakdance move in which the dancer spins on the floor while extending the legs to resemble the blades of a helicopter.

#### Synonyms

* (aircraft): chopper (informal), copter (informal), eggbeater (slang), heli (informal), helo (military, slang), rotary-wing aircraft (technical), whirlybird (slang)
* (trowelling device): power trowel, trowel machine
* (winged fruit): samara, whirlybird

#### Hyponyms

* attack helicopter
* black helicopter
* synchropter (sometimes considered coordinate)

#### Derived terms

* Chinese helicopter
* copter
* -copter (and derivatives therefrom)
* free helicopter ride
* heli
* heli- (and derivatives therefrom)
* helicopter bucket
* helicopter carrier
* helicopter drop
* helicopter ear
* helicopterful
* helicoptering
* helicopterlike
* helicopter mom
* helicopter money
* helicopter parent
* helicopter parenting
* helicopter seed
* helicopter shot
* helo
* roflcopter

#### Descendants

* → Amharic: ሄሊኮፕተር (helikoptär)
* Bislama: helikopta
* → Cebuano: helikopter
* → Malay: helikopter
* → Tagalog: helikopter
* Tok Pisin: helikopta

#### Translations
### Verb

helicopter (third-person singular simple present helicopters, present participle helicoptering, simple past and past participle helicoptered)
* (transitive) To transport by helicopter.
** 2023 November 29, Paul Clifton, “West is best in the Highlands”, in RAIL, number 997, page 40:Car drivers were helicoptered to safety from nearby roads. There were photographs of people canoeing down streets.
* (intransitive) 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

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

## Romanian
### Noun

helicopter n (plural helicoptere)
* Alternative form of elicopter