helicopter

Forms

1.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.
- 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.
2.A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
- The helicopter is flying very low.
3.The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.
- The helicopter is flying very low.
4.A dragonfly; so named due to its resemblance to a helicopter (sense 1).(slang)
- The helicopter is flying very low.

1.To transport by helicopter.
- Car drivers were helicoptered to safety from nearby roads. There were photographs of people canoeing down streets.
2.To travel by helicopter.
3.To rotate like a helicopter blade.
4.To overprotect one's children, as a helicopter parent does.

Uncommon· #3776

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.