parachute

noun para·chute \ ˈper-ə-ˌshüt , ˈpa-rə- \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of parachute

1 : a device for slowing the descent of a person or object through the air that consists of a fabric canopy beneath which the person or object is suspended

2 : patagium

3 : a device or structure suggestive of a parachute in form, use, or operation

—

parachutic

play \ˌper-ə-ˈshü-tik, ˌpa-rə-\ adjective

See parachute defined for English-language learners

See parachute defined for kids

Examples of parachute in a Sentence

The pilot was wearing a parachute.
The supplies were dropped by parachute.

Recent Examples of parachute from the Web

Then, when a local policeman pulled him from a mob that greeted his parachute near Linz.

— mike newall, Philly.com, "Honors, finally, for a Tuskegee Airman from Philly, lynched by the Nazis | Mike Newall," 20 Apr. 2018
Kendall captioned a series of photos that show her and Scott in their jumpsuits and then posing triumphantly with their open parachutes.

— kayleigh roberts, Marie Claire, "Kendall Jenner Just Jumped Out of a Plane with Her Sister's Ex," 11 Apr. 2018
Hughes reached a speed that Stakes estimated to be around 350 mph before pulling his parachute.

— NBC News, "Self-taught rocket scientist finally blasts off into California sky," 25 Mar. 2018
After four years in the Miles Davis Quintet, Mr. Coltrane had broken a hole in the parachute and was hurtling somewhere new at terminal speeds.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "The Playlist: Shawn Mendes Shows His Scars, and 9 More New Songs," 23 Mar. 2018
Gray was certainly in the right place at the right time to test the new parachute.

— annie gentile, Courant Community, "Historical Society Remembers Jump Into Fame," 15 Mar. 2018
The parachutes from both cars got tangled at that point, and Lindberg's car dragged Force's back across the track and into the left wall.

— CBS News, "NHRA: Courtney Force wins, father John Force in frightening crash," 26 Feb. 2018
Planned events include a parachute demo, flyovers, marching bands and a cavalry re-enactment.

— beth j. harpaz, chicagotribune.com, "San Antonio tricentennial remembers the Alamo and much more," 4 Apr. 2018
Once the rocket reaches space, the fairing breaks into two pieces, each of which deploys a parachute-like material known as a parafoil to slow down.

— loren grush, The Verge, "SpaceX will try again to catch a Falcon 9 nose cone during this morning’s launch," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'parachute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of parachute

borrowed from French, from para- (as in parasol parasol) + chute "fall" — more at chute

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1784

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

parachute

verb

Definition of parachute

parachuted; parachuting

transitive verb

: to convey by means of a parachute

intransitive verb

: to descend by means of a parachute

See parachute defined for English-language learners

Examples of parachute in a Sentence

The soldiers parachuted in and quickly hid their gear.
New troops parachuted into enemy territory.
We will parachute supplies in after you arrive.
New troops were parachuted into enemy territory.

Recent Examples of parachute from the Web

Aaron Bank — then a special-operations agent for the United States — parachuted into France in August 1944 and trained the Loewys and other resistance fighters.

— jessica boehm, azcentral, "Founding family of Phoenix synagogue saved 1,500 people during the Holocaust," 12 Apr. 2018
His interview subjects Tuesday included Tom Rice, a Coronado resident and retired high school teacher who was in the Army during the war and parachuted into Normandy on D-Day.

— john wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Wanted: World War II combat vets for ongoing interview project," 10 Apr. 2018
Dakich had a unique perspective on this team, parachuting in from Michigan without an intimate understanding of a program that had been splintering behind closed doors.

— bill landis, cleveland.com, "Keita Bates-Diop's NBA decision hangs over an interesting Ohio State basketball offseason," 19 Mar. 2018
Instead of parachuting in to solve a particular problem, consultants now need to be able to effect a corporate metamorphosis for a whole new environment, one constantly being remade by digital technology.

— belinda luscombe, Time, "How Deloitte CEO Cathy Engelbert Rose to the Top," 22 Mar. 2018
John Fox’s parachute out of Chicago has guided him to ESPN.

— rich campbell, chicagotribune.com, "Former Bears coach John Fox joining ESPN as NFL analyst," 20 Mar. 2018
Fortnite's cartoonish take on the dystopian movie involves 100 solo players or teams of two or four people packed into a flying bus who parachute down onto an island with only the clothes on their back.

— ryan smith, Chicago Reader, "News / Technology / The Internet The nation's hottest entertainer right now is a suburban Chicago video game streamer named Ninja," 19 Mar. 2018
Born in 1917 and raised in Oxford, Connecticut, she was infatuated from a very young age with the idea of parachuting.

— annie gentile, Courant Community, "Historical Society Remembers Jump Into Fame," 15 Mar. 2018
The president parachuted into Moon Township, Pennsylvania to rally for Saccone over the weekend.

— chad pergram, Fox News, "Pennsylvania election another reminder that winning - and not being close - is what matters," 15 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of parachute

derivative of ¹parachute

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1809

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

See Words from the same year

Other Aeronautics/Aerospace Terms

airway, apron, corridor, dirigible, fishtail, flat-hat, vector

PARACHUTE Defined for English Language Learners

parachute

noun

Definition of parachute for English Language Learners

: a piece of equipment usually made of cloth that is fastened to people or things and that allows them to fall slowly and land safely after they have jumped or been dropped from an aircraft