parachute
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a large piece of thin cloth that opens in the air to slow down a person or object falling from a plane.
n.an apparatus made of fabric designed to provide air resistance and slow the descent of a person or object through the atmosphere.
Simple“The pilot had to use his parachute after the engine failed over the mountains.”
In context“Modern parachutes are engineered with steerable canopies, allowing skydivers to navigate precisely toward a designated landing zone even in variable wind conditions.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a large, colourful sheet of fabric used in school games for children to hold and move up and down.
n.a large circular sheet used in recreational or educational settings to demonstrate air pressure and encourage group coordination.
Simple“The children laughed as they bounced the balls on the giant parachute in the gym.”
In context“The instructor used the colourful parachute to facilitate team-building exercises among the primary school students during their physical education block.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to jump out of an aircraft using a parachute.
v.to descend from an aircraft or high altitude by means of a parachute. Often used intransitively.
Simple“The soldiers were trained to parachute into enemy territory under the cover of darkness.”
In context“The emergency supplies were parachuted into the remote village after the earthquake destroyed all accessible roads.”
Synonymsskydivedrop - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to put someone into a high-level job or position when they have not worked there before.
v.to appoint an individual to a senior position within an organisation from the outside, typically bypassing the usual promotion ladder.
Simple“The company decided to parachute in a new CEO to fix the financial problems.”
In context“The board's decision to parachute a political ally into the executive role was met with significant resistance from the long-standing management team.”
UsageOften used with the prepositions 'in' or 'into'.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to wrap illegal drugs in paper and swallow them so they enter the body slowly.
v.to ingest illicit substances by wrapping them in a material that dissolves in the stomach, intended to delay or manage absorption.
Simple“He was arrested for trying to parachute the pills before the police arrived.”
In context“The suspect admitted to parachuting the narcotics in an attempt to avoid detection during the routine border inspection.”
Borrowed from French parachute, from para- (“protection against”) (as in parasol) and chute (“fall”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.