Words / A2

HEL-ik-opt-uh/ˈhelɪkɒptə/

A helicopter is an aircraft with spinning blades: a rescue helicopter, travel by helicopter, a helicopter landing. Plane / aeroplane needs a runway; a helicopter can go straight up. Chopper is informal. Pilot can fly both. Helipad is the landing spot. Do not write helicoptor — the ending is -ter.

Meaning

An aircraft with large spinning blades on top.

Examples

• “A helicopter took the patient to hospital.”
• “A helicopter took the climber off the hill.”
• “We heard a helicopter above the harbour.”

Good to know

a rescue helicopter / by helicopter. Needs no runway (unlike a plane). Informal: chopper.

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