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

Royal Air Force paratroopers drew a grand applause after a coordinated display of parachute work that saw them float down to the shores.

From Los Angeles Times

The astronauts will then begin a dangerous part of the mission as they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere, and parachute back to the surface off the coast of California.

From BBC

It had just taken off from Portland, Ore. At Seattle, he forced airline officials to bring him four parachutes and $200,000 in $20 bills.

From Los Angeles Times

In one photo of a yellow parachute in the air, he wrote: "Once upon a time, an intelligent, sharp-witted man they call 'mysterious' parachuted into my life."

From BBC

In the message for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003, Lord Mandelson - UK ambassador to the US since last year - describes him as an "intelligent, sharp-witted man", who "parachuted" into his life.

From BBC

Related Words

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