Main Entry: ¹he·li·cop·ter

Pronunciation: \ˈhe-lə-ˌkäp-tər, ˈhē-\

Function: noun

Etymology: French hélicoptère, from Greek heliko- + pteron wing — more at feather

Date: 1887

: an aircraft whose lift is derived from the aerodynamic forces acting on one or more powered rotors turning about substantially vertical axes