# helicopter

/ˈhɛɫɪˌkɑptɝ/ (US) · /hˈɛlɪkˌɒptɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/helicopter
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. winged seed

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

the winged seed of trees like the maple that spins as it falls to the ground.

For teachers: the winged fruit or samara of certain trees, such as the maple or ash, which rotates during descent to aid wind dispersal.

- The children loved catching the little helicopters as they fell from the maple tree.
- The lawn was carpeted with maple helicopters, their aerodynamic wings designed to carry the seeds far from the shade of the parent tree.

### 3. to travel or transport

verb · CEFR B2

to travel somewhere or carry someone using a helicopter.

For teachers: to transport people or goods, or to travel oneself, by means of a helicopter.

- The team was helicoptered into the remote jungle to start their research.
- Due to the washed-out roads, the government decided to helicopter emergency supplies directly to the isolated coastal villages.

### 4. to overparent

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to watch over your children too closely and try to control everything they do.

For teachers: to practice overprotective or excessive supervision of one's children, often interfering in their daily affairs.

- She tends to helicopter around her son even when he is just playing at the park.
- University administrators have noted an increase in parents who helicopter their adult children during the admissions process.

Usage: Often used as a participle in the phrase 'helicopter parenting'.

## Examples

- The helicopter lands on the hospital roof.
- Rescue teams used a helicopter to reach the hikers who were stranded on the steep mountain ledge.
- While fixed-wing aircraft require runways for momentum, the helicopter's ability to hover makes it indispensable for urban emergency services and remote geological surveys.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.