helicopter
n. · v.-
1 winged seed (n.) C2 Proficiency Informal Botanythe winged seed of trees like the maple that spins as it falls to the ground.
the winged fruit or samara of certain trees, such as the maple or ash, which rotates during descent to aid wind dispersal.
ExampleThe children loved catching the little helicopters as they fell from the maple tree.
ExampleThe lawn was carpeted with maple helicopters, their aerodynamic wings designed to carry the seeds far from the shade of the parent tree.
- samara
- whirlybird
-
2 to travel or transport (v.) B2 Upper Intermediateto travel somewhere or carry someone using a helicopter.
to transport people or goods, or to travel oneself, by means of a helicopter.
ExampleThe team was helicoptered into the remote jungle to start their research.
ExampleDue to the washed-out roads, the government decided to helicopter emergency supplies directly to the isolated coastal villages.
-
3 to overparent (v.) C1 Advanced Informalto watch over your children too closely and try to control everything they do.
to practice overprotective or excessive supervision of one's children, often interfering in their daily affairs.
ExampleShe tends to helicopter around her son even when he is just playing at the park.
ExampleUniversity administrators have noted an increase in parents who helicopter their adult children during the admissions process.
UsageOften used as a participle in the phrase 'helicopter parenting'.
- overprotect
- micromanage
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated June 19, 2026