helicopter
helicopter — noun
1. a flying machine that gets its upward force from large spinning blades fixed on
a flying machine that gets its upward force from large spinning blades fixed on its roof instead of from wings; it can rise directly upward, touch down in small spaces, and hover in one spot.
A police <hw>helicopter</hw> circled the stadium with a bright searchlight.
modifier: police helicopter
The injured hiker was airlifted to safety by a rescue <hw>helicopter</hw>.
passive: airlifted by a rescue helicopter
Tamar took a short <hw>helicopter</hw> tour and saw the whole city skyline.
Obi watched the <hw>helicopter</hw> land on the hospital rooftop to deliver a patient.
The loud <hw>helicopter</hw> blades made it hard to hear anything nearby.
- chopper
informal synonym, frequently used in news reports and casual speech
- whirlybird
very informal, humorous term, uncommon in serious contexts
- airplane
fixed-wing aircraft that requires a runway and cannot hover
文法句型
a/the + helicopter + noun (e.g. helicopter pilot, helicopter tour)
用法筆記
Commonly used as a modifier before another noun (helicopter pilot, helicopter ride, helicopter crash). Distinguish from airplane, which has fixed wings and requires a runway for takeoff and landing.
常見錯誤
helicopter — verb
1. to travel somewhere in a helicopter, often used when the journey is fast, over d
to travel somewhere in a helicopter, often used when the journey is fast, over difficult terrain, or to a place that is hard to reach by road.
The rescue team <hw>helicopter</hw>ed into the remote village after the landslide.
intransitive + into + place
Noor <hw>helicopter</hw>ed off the oil rig after her two-week shift.
The general <hw>helicopter</hw>ed directly from the capital to inspect the troops.
Haruto <hw>helicopter</hw>ed across the channel to attend the conference on the mainland.
- fly in by helicopter
longer, more formal way to express the same idea
文法句型
helicopter + to/into/out of + place
helicopter + adverb (out, in, away)
用法筆記
Almost always used with a directional adverb or prepositional phrase. The simple form 'They helicoptered' sounds incomplete without a destination or origin.
2. to move people or goods by helicopter, especially in an emergency or when other
to move people or goods by helicopter, especially in an emergency or when other forms of transport are not possible.
The injured climber was <hw>helicopter</hw>ed to a hospital in Anchorage.
passive: was helicoptered to [place]
The army <hw>helicopter</hw>ed food and blankets to the flooded towns.
transitive: helicopter + goods + to + place
Devika was <hw>helicopter</hw>ed out of the disaster zone within hours.
Aid workers <hw>helicopter</hw>ed clean water into the earthquake zone every morning.
- airlift
broader term; can refer to transport by any aircraft, not only helicopters
文法句型
be helicoptered + to/out of/away from + place
helicopter + someone/something + to + place
用法筆記
The passive form ('was helicoptered to…') is far more common than the active. The active form typically has an institution or authority as the subject.