helm
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the wheel or handle used to steer a ship or boat.
n.the tiller or wheel used to control the rudder of a marine vessel; by extension, the entire steering mechanism.
Simple“The captain stood at the helm, carefully guiding the ship through the narrow channel.”
In context“As the storm intensified, the seasoned sailor struggled to keep his grip on the helm while the waves battered the hull.”
UsageOften used with the definite article 'the'.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a position of being in control or in charge of something, like a company.
n.a figurative position of control, leadership, or management within an organisation or project.
Simple“With a new CEO at the helm, the company expects to see many changes this year.”
In context“After a decade at the helm of the non-profit, she decided it was time to step down and let new talent lead.”
UsageCommonly appears in the idiomatic phrase 'at the helm'.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to be the leader of a project, a film, or an organisation.
v.to direct, manage, or lead a specific enterprise, particularly in creative or corporate contexts.
Simple“The famous director will helm the new superhero movie next summer.”
In context“The board of directors invited him to helm the restructuring process due to his extensive experience in corporate turnarounds.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a protective hat worn in battle; a helmet.
n.a piece of defensive armour for the head.
Simple“The knight polished his silver helm before the tournament began.”
In context“The museum's collection includes a rare bronze helm recovered from a fourteenth-century shipwreck.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is almost exclusively found in fantasy literature or historical texts; use 'helmet' in all modern contexts.
Synonymshelmetheadpiece
“It was also one of the first big agreements struck by O’Neill, a US-born former ExxonMobil executive, in her first month at the helm.”
“Tim de Lisle helms our live blog, with Will Unwin reporting from the MKM Stadium.”
Perhaps so called from the 'helm' or cap of clouds that forms above Cross Fell (known as the Helm Bar) and can predict and accompany a Helm.
Two main origins: * An English topographic surname for someone who lived by or worked at a temporary shelter for animals, from Middle English helm (“a helmet; a protection”). * Borrowed from German Helm (“a helmet”), metonymic occupational surname for a maker of helmets.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.