helicopter

1 of 2

noun

he·​li·​cop·​ter ˈhe-lə-ˌkäp-tər 

ˈhē-

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

helicopter

2 of 2

verb

helicoptered; helicoptering; helicopters

intransitive verb

: to travel by helicopter

transitive verb

: to transport by helicopter

Synonyms of helicopter

Noun

• chopper

Examples of helicopter in a Sentence

Noun

took a helicopter tour to get a better sense of the grandeur of the Grand Canyon

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Set the scene In a city where traffic is so bad that helicopters are a common alternative, business travelers will appreciate this location. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026

On the night of the raid, Caceres and Rojas were awakened by the sounds of a helicopter and saw agents rappelling down onto the building. —Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026

Verb

Navy recovery crews brought the astronauts to the USS John P. Murtha for medical checks before they were slated to helicopter back to land. —Miles Doran, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026

Troops would need to collect the material from several places, secure an airstrip near each, truck or helicopter the equipment and material to and from the strip, and defend against attacks on the preparations and shipments. —Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

1887, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1952, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing helicopter

• helicopter parent

Rhymes for helicopter

• adopter
• copter

Kids Definition

helicopter

noun

he·​li·​cop·​ter

ˈhel-ə-ˌkäp-tər, 

ˈhē-lə-

: an aircraft that is supported in the air by propellers revolving on a vertical axis