Definitions
01aircraft/spacecraft
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the small area at the front of a plane where the pilot sits and controls the flight.
n. the compartment in an aircraft or spacecraft containing the controls and the seats for the pilot and co-pilot.
“The pilot invited the children to look inside the cockpit after the plane landed.”
“Modern cockpits are equipped with digital displays that have largely replaced the traditional analogue dials found in older aircraft.”
Synonyms
02racing car
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. the part of a racing car where the driver sits.
n. the driver's compartment in a racing car, typically designed for a single occupant and maximum safety.
“The driver climbed into the cockpit and fastened his safety harness.”
“Engineers designed the cockpit to be as narrow as possible to improve the car's overall aerodynamic profile.”
Synonyms
03nautical
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Science Technical
n. the area near the back of a boat where the person steering sits.
n. a sunken area or well, usually near the stern of a sailing vessel, from which the craft is steered.
“We sat in the cockpit of the yacht and watched the waves.”
“The crew gathered in the cockpit to discuss the navigation charts while the captain maintained a steady course.”
Synonyms
04site of conflict
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. a place where there has been a lot of fighting or war in the past.
n. a figurative term for a place that is the scene of frequent or intense conflict.
“For centuries, this small region was the cockpit of Europe.”
“Historians often describe the Low Countries as the cockpit of Europe due to the numerous decisive battles fought on their soil.”
Synonyms
05cockfighting pit
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic
n. an enclosed area where people used to make birds fight for sport.
n. an enclosed area or pit used for the historical practice of cockfighting.
“The old village still had a stone circle that was once used as a cockpit.”
“The ruins of the medieval cockpit serve as a grim reminder of blood sports that were once popular entertainment.”
Real-World Examples
“The report then says: "In the cockpit voice recording, one of the pilots is heard asking the other why did he cutoff.” “They cannot tell us what happened in the Air India cockpit.” Etymology
Compound of cock (“rooster”) + pit.
Either the same as above or from compound of cock (“boat”) + pit, where the first element is also found in cockboat and coxswain.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/cockpit
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0