parachute

[par-uh-shoot]

noun

1. a folding, umbrellalike, fabric device with cords supporting a harness or straps for allowing a person, object, package, etc., to float down safely through the air from a great height, especially from an aircraft, rendered effective by the resistance of the air that expands it during the descent and reduces the velocity of its fall.

2. parachute brake.

3. Horology.,  a shockproofing device for the balance staff of a watch, consisting of a yielding, springlike support for the bearing at either end.

4. Informal.

   1. the aggregate of benefits, as severance pay or vacation pay, given an employee who is dismissed from a company.

   2. golden parachute.

verb (used with object)

parachuted, parachuting 

1. to drop or land (troops, equipment, supplies, etc.) by parachute.

verb (used without object)

parachuted, parachuting 

1. to descend by parachute.

parachute

/ ˈpærəˌʃuːt /

noun

1. 1. a device used to retard the fall of a man or package from an aircraft, consisting of a large fabric canopy connected to a harness

   2. Sometimes shortened to: chute. ( as modifier ) See also brake parachute

      parachute troops

verb

1. (of troops, supplies, etc) to land or cause to land by parachute from an aircraft

2. (in an election) to bring in (a candidate, esp someone well known) from outside the constituency

Other Word Forms

• parachutic adjective
• parachutist noun
• parachuter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of parachute¹

1775–85; < French, equivalent to para- para- ² + chute fall; chute ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of parachute¹

C18: from French, from _para- ² + chute fall

Example Sentences

“He had made himself a parachute out of his own dark cloak,” Miss Mortimer explained.

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Theirs was a bold but unlikely mission: to parachute behind enemy lines and save European Jews from extermination.

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This should be understood as a requirement that the PA be capable of restraining Hamas and wanted by the people of Gaza—it isn’t currently—rather than parachuted in and imposed on them.

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The FAA also limited business jets and some other private flights to major airports, along with restrictions on commercial space launches and parachute operations.

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Five members of the eight-man crew managed to eject safely and open their parachutes.

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Related Words

• bounce 
• bound 
• dive 
• drop 
• fall 
• hop 
• plummet 
• skip 
• surge 
• take 
• top 
• vault