helicopter

Meanings

Noun

an aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades
An aircraft that is borne along by one or more sets of long rotating blades which allow it to hover, move in any direction including reverse, or land; and typically having a smaller set of blades on its tail to stabilize the aircraft.
A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.
A dragonfly; so named due to its resemblance to a helicopter (sense 1).
A whirling trick performed with devil sticks.
A breakdance move in which the dancer spins on the floor while extending the legs to resemble the blades of a helicopter.

Verb

To transport by helicopter.
To travel by helicopter.
To rotate like a helicopter blade.
To overprotect one's children, as a helicopter parent does.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from French hélicoptère, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (hélix, “spiral”) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”). Doublet of helicopteron. By surface analysis, helico- + -pter. The dragonfly sense is from a dragonfly's ability to hover and fly in any direction, like the flying machine.

Synonyms

chopper, copter, eggbeater, heli, helo, power trowel, rotary-wing aircraft, samara, trowel machine, whirlybird

Scrabble Score: 17

helicopter is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
helicopter is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
helicopter is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

helicopter is a valid Words With Friends word