helicopter

Everyday

1. A helicopter is an aircraft with big spinning blades on top, which lets it go straight up, straight down and hover in one place. tree →
2. (rare, verb) To helicopter someone is to carry them by helicopter. tree →
3. (informal) A helicopter parent is a parent who watches over a child too closely. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and news it is used for rescues, hospitals, police and news reporting. In science, pupils make paper helicopters to test falling and air resistance. Phrases: rescue helicopter, air ambulance, helicopter pad, helicopter parent.

Examples

• A rescue helicopter lifted the climber off the mountain. tree →
• The helicopter hovered above the field. tree →
• We made paper helicopters and timed them falling. tree →
• The injured man was helicoptered to hospital. tree →
• A helicopter can land on a small pad. tree →
• The police helicopter shone a light down. tree →
• His mum is a bit of a helicopter parent. tree →
• Each helicopter can carry 6 people, so 3 helicopters carry 18. tree →

Note

Countable. Short slang: chopper, heli. Spelling: h-e-l-i-c-o-p-t-e-r. Trap: a helicopter is not a plane; it does not need a runway.