helper

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun British English · Dialect

n. a person who is paid to do cleaning, cooking, and housework in a family home.

n. a domestic employee engaged to perform household duties such as cleaning, cooking, and childcare.

“Many families in the city employ a helper to look after the children while the parents are at work.”

“The agency specialises in placing experienced domestic helpers with families who require full-time live-in assistance.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical · American English

n. an extra engine used to help a train climb a steep hill.

n. an auxiliary locomotive used to provide additional power to a train, typically for ascending steep gradients.

“The train stopped at the base of the mountain to attach a helper for the steep climb.”

“The railway company maintained a fleet of helper engines at the mountain pass to assist heavy freight trains during the winter months.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang

n. a slang word for a pill that gives you energy, like an amphetamine.

n. a slang term for a stimulant pill, specifically amphetamines.

“He was caught with a pocket full of helpers at the party.”

“The investigation revealed a local network involved in the distribution of various stimulants, known on the street as helpers.”