as in helicopter
a vehicle for traveling through the air that obtains its lift from rotors which spin horizontally
from the sky a police whirlybird was able to track the fleeing carjacker
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of whirlybird
At its factory in Cambodia, Outland Denim uses a method of heat extraction involving breezeways and a roof ventilation device known as a whirlybird.
—
Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Mars’ atmosphere is thin, so the extraterrestrial whirlybird needed some special modifications to achieve lift.
—Hailey Rose McLaughlin, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2019
The sleek, dark-green whirlybird, with its luxe leather interior, sat in front of Airbus’s static display at the National Business Aviation Association’s BACE conference in Orlando.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2022
The result is a whirlybird that’s quieter than usual, but also potentially safer.
—Rob Verger and Charlie Wood, Popular Science, 2 Dec. 2020
Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
Mars’ atmosphere is thin, so the extraterrestrial whirlybird needed some special modifications to achieve lift.
—Hailey Rose McLaughlin, Discover Magazine, 4 Sep. 2019
The sleek, dark-green whirlybird, with its luxe leather interior, sat in front of Airbus’s static display at the National Business Aviation Association’s BACE conference in Orlando.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2022
The result is a whirlybird that’s quieter than usual, but also potentially safer.
—Rob Verger and Charlie Wood, Popular Science, 2 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirlybird
Noun
-
The stakes for air safety were made clear in January when an American Airlines regional jet collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, killing all 67 people aboard.—
Jackie Snow,
Quartz,
19 May 2025
-
They'll be followed later by newer aircraft, including 50 Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
The cloud level was so low, with strong gusts of snow and rain, that a chopper couldn’t land and a ground rescue might take days.—
Benjamin Alva Polley,
Rolling Stone,
10 May 2025
-
When a chopper passes overhead in the closing moments, Sara can shrug it off.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
6 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whirlybird.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirlybird. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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