What does "parachute" mean?

1. (safety device for falling) a large piece of thin cloth that opens in the air to slow down a person or object falling from a plane. 2. (physical education equipment) a large, colourful sheet of fabric used in school games for children to hold and move up and down. 3. (to jump with a parachute) to jump out of an aircraft using a parachute. 4. (to appoint from outside) to put someone into a high-level job or position when they have not worked there before. 5. (to swallow drugs) to wrap illegal drugs in paper and swallow them so they enter the body slowly.

How do you use "parachute"?

Often used with the prepositions 'in' or 'into'.

parachute

n. · v.

US //ˈpɛɹəˌʃut// UK //pˈæɹəʃˌuːt// para·chute

1 safety device for falling (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a large piece of thin cloth that opens in the air to slow down a person or object falling from a plane.

an apparatus made of fabric designed to provide air resistance and slow the descent of a person or object through the atmosphere.

Example

The pilot had to use his parachute after the engine failed over the mountains.

Example

Modern parachutes are engineered with steerable canopies, allowing skydivers to navigate precisely toward a designated landing zone even in variable wind conditions.
- chute
2 physical education equipment (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a large, colourful sheet of fabric used in school games for children to hold and move up and down.

a large circular sheet used in recreational or educational settings to demonstrate air pressure and encourage group coordination.

Example

The children laughed as they bounced the balls on the giant parachute in the gym.

Example

The instructor used the colourful parachute to facilitate team-building exercises among the primary school students during their physical education block.

Show 3 more sensesShow fewer

3 to jump with a parachute (v.)
B1 Intermediate

to jump out of an aircraft using a parachute.

to descend from an aircraft or high altitude by means of a parachute. Often used intransitively.

Example

The soldiers were trained to parachute into enemy territory under the cover of darkness.

Example

The emergency supplies were parachuted into the remote village after the earthquake destroyed all accessible roads.
- skydive
- drop
4 to appoint from outside (v.)
C1 Advanced Informal

to put someone into a high-level job or position when they have not worked there before.

to appoint an individual to a senior position within an organisation from the outside, typically bypassing the usual promotion ladder.

Example

The company decided to parachute in a new CEO to fix the financial problems.

Example

The board's decision to parachute a political ally into the executive role was met with significant resistance from the long-standing management team.

Usage

Often used with the prepositions 'in' or 'into'.
- install
- insert
5 to swallow drugs (v.)
C2 Proficiency Slang Vulgar

to wrap illegal drugs in paper and swallow them so they enter the body slowly.

to ingest illicit substances by wrapping them in a material that dissolves in the stomach, intended to delay or manage absorption.

Example

He was arrested for trying to parachute the pills before the police arrived.

Example

The suspect admitted to parachuting the narcotics in an attempt to avoid detection during the routine border inspection.

Origin

Borrowed from French parachute, from para- (“protection against”) (as in parasol) and chute (“fall”).

Word family

Nounchute
Nounparachute

Idioms1 entry

01
golden parachute
An agreement between a company and an employee, usually an executive, specifying that the employee will receive certain significant benefits if employment is terminated.