helicopter

1. (aircraft) An aircraft that is borne along by one or more sets of long rotating blades which allow it to hover, move in any direction including reverse, or land; and typically having a smaller set of blades on its tail to stabilize the aircraft.Examples: "We flew over the city in a helicopter."; "I’ve flown in flimsy microlights, soaring serenely above rich farmland. I’ve ridden tactical combat helicopters missions, skimming the desert floor and banking hard around sand dunes."; "Investigators trying to determine what caused last week’s deadly midair collision between a US military Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines plane near Washington, DC, briefed lawmakers Thursday on what they’ve learned after combing through data from both aircraft and air traffic control."Synonyms: chopper, copter, eggbeater, heli, helo, rotary-wing aircraft, whirlybird

2. (botany) The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.Synonyms: samara, whirlybird

3. (zoology, slang) A dragonfly; so named due to its resemblance to a helicopter (sense 1).slang

4. (dance) A breakdance move in which the dancer spins on the floor while extending the legs to resemble the blades of a helicopter.