# helicopter

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈheliˌkɔptə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #5,798

## Definitions
1. 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.
2. A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.
3. The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.
4. A dragonfly; so named due to its resemblance to a helicopter (sense 1).
5. A whirling trick performed with devil sticks.
6. A breakdance move in which the dancer spins on the floor while extending the legs to resemble the blades of a helicopter.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French hélicoptère, from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (hélix, “spiral”) + πτερόν (pterón, “wing”). Doublet of helicopteron. By surface analysis, helico- + -pter. The dragonfly sense is from a dragonfly's ability to hover and fly in any direction, like the flying machine.

## Common misspellings (15)
`ehlicopter`, `heilcopter`, `helciopter`, `heliccopter`, `helicopetr`, `helicoppter`, `helicopterr`, `helicoptre`, `helicoptter`, `helicotper`, `helicpoter`, `heliocpter`, `hellicopter`, `hhelicopter`, `hleicopter`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/helicopter