pilot

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a person who helps steer ships through difficult or dangerous waters.

n. a person with local knowledge of depths and currents hired to navigate a vessel through a specific harbour or coastal area.

“The local pilot boarded the cargo ship to guide it safely into the narrow port.”

“Maritime law often requires a local pilot to take command of the bridge when a large vessel enters a restricted waterway.”

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Theater

n. a single episode of a TV show made to see if the whole series should be produced.

n. a sample episode of a proposed television series produced to gauge audience reaction and network interest.

“The pilot was so popular that the network ordered ten more episodes immediately.”

“While the pilot featured a different actor in the lead role, the core premise of the sitcom remained unchanged when the series was greenlit.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to act as the pilot of a plane or ship.

v. to operate the controls of an aircraft or watercraft; often used transitively.

“He has been piloting small private planes for over twenty years.”

“The captain successfully piloted the damaged vessel through the storm, reaching the safety of the bay just before midnight.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to test a new idea or product on a small scale before starting it fully.

v. to conduct a preliminary trial of a program, product, or policy to evaluate its feasibility.

“The school decided to pilot the new lunch program in just one grade first.”

“The government intends to pilot the universal basic income scheme in three specific municipalities before considering a nationwide rollout.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. describing something used as a test or a trial.

adj. serving as a tentative model or test for future developments; typically used attributively.

“The company is running a pilot project to see if people like the new app.”

“The results from the pilot study suggested that the medication was effective, though a larger clinical trial is still required.”