# parachute

/ˈpɛɹəˌʃut/ (US) · /pˈæɹəʃˌuːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/parachute
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. safety device for falling

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The pilot had to use his parachute after the engine failed over the mountains.
- Modern parachutes are engineered with steerable canopies, allowing skydivers to navigate precisely toward a designated landing zone even in variable wind conditions.

### 2. physical education equipment

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- The children laughed as they bounced the balls on the giant parachute in the gym.
- The instructor used the colourful parachute to facilitate team-building exercises among the primary school students during their physical education block.

### 3. to jump with a parachute

verb · CEFR B1

to jump out of an aircraft using a parachute.

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

- The soldiers were trained to parachute into enemy territory under the cover of darkness.
- The emergency supplies were parachuted into the remote village after the earthquake destroyed all accessible roads.

### 4. to appoint from outside

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

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

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

### 5. to swallow drugs

verb · CEFR C2 · Slang · Vulgar

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

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

- He was arrested for trying to parachute the pills before the police arrived.
- The suspect admitted to parachuting the narcotics in an attempt to avoid detection during the routine border inspection.

## Examples

- The pilot jumped from the plane and opened his parachute.
- The cargo was dropped from the transport plane with a heavy-duty parachute to ensure the supplies landed without breaking.
- Modern emergency parachutes are designed with steerable toggles, allowing the jumper to navigate toward a safe landing zone even in unpredictable crosswinds.

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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.