helicopter

American  

[hel-i-kop-ter, hee-li-] / ˈhɛl ɪˌkɒp tər, ˈhi lɪ- /

noun

helicopters plural

1. any of a class of heavier-than-air craft that are lifted and sustained in the air horizontally by rotating wings or blades turning on vertical axes through power supplied by an engine.

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verb (used without object)

helicopters, present (3rd person singular) helicoptered, past participle, past helicoptering present participle

1. to fly in a helicopter.

verb (used with object)

helicopters, present (3rd person singular) helicoptered, past participle, past helicoptering present participle

1. to convey in a helicopter.

helicopter British  

/ ˈhɛlɪˌkɒptə /

noun

1. an aircraft capable of hover, vertical flight, and horizontal flight in any direction. Most get all of their lift and propulsion from the rotation of overhead blades See also autogiro

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verb

1. to transport (people or things) or (of people or things) to be transported by helicopter

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• helicopters
  plural

Participles

• helicoptering
  present
• helicoptered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• helicopter
  simple
• helicopters
  simple
• have helicoptered
  perfect
• has helicoptered
  perfect
• am helicoptering
  progressive
• are helicoptering
  progressive
• is helicoptering
  progressive
• have been helicoptering
  perfect progressive
• has been helicoptering
  perfect progressive

Past

• helicoptered
  simple
• had helicoptered
  perfect
• was helicoptering
  progressive
• were helicoptering
  progressive
• had been helicoptering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will helicopter
  simple
• will have helicoptered
  perfect
• will be helicoptering
  progressive
• will have been helicoptering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of helicopter

From the French word hélicoptère, dating back to 1885–90. See helico-, -pter

Explanation

A helicopter is a flying vehicle with a system of rotors that lift and propel it. In some cities, police officers patrol in helicopters. In some suburbs, wealthy people even commute by helicopter. Like airplanes, helicopters travel through the air — but unlike airplanes, they don't have wings. Most helicopters have a large rotor blade on top that creates lift by spinning rapidly. Smaller rotors help the helicopter move and steer. Hospitals use helicopters for transporting patients in crisis, for whom an ambulance might not move fast enough. The word comes from Greek roots, helix, "spiral," and pteron, "wing."

Example Sentences

His mother graduated in 1994 and flew helicopter missions in the Middle East.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026

According to reporters travelling with Trump, his online post came as his helicopter was approaching the White House on return from the presidential retreat at Camp David in Maryland, where he spent the weekend.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

There’s the recent story of a Black Hawk helicopter getting downed by an Iranian drone, and then the pilots were rescued by a drone boat.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

You might see it as a form of helicopter parenting for adult children who frankly need “helicoptering.”

From MarketWatch • Jun. 19, 2026

Against the smoky, moonlit sky, she saw a big two-rotor helicopter.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

• chopper