1 pilot | Definition of pilot

pilot

noun
pi·​lot | \ ˈpÄ«-lÉ™t How to pronounce pilot (audio) \

Definition of pilot

 (Entry 1 of 3)

1a : one employed to steer a ship : helmsman
b : a person who is qualified and usually licensed to conduct a ship into and out of a port or in specified waters
c : a person who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
2 : guide, leader
4 : a piece that guides a tool or machine part
5 : a television show produced and filmed or taped as a sample of a proposed series

pilot

verb
piloted; piloting; pilots

Definition of pilot (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to act as a guide to : lead or conduct over a usually difficult course
2a : to set and conn the course of pilot a ship
b : to act as pilot of pilot a plane

pilot

adjective

Definition of pilot (Entry 3 of 3)

: serving as a guiding or tracing device, an activating or auxiliary unit, or a trial apparatus or operation a pilot study

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Other Words from pilot

Noun

pilotless \ ˈpÄ«-​lÉ™t-​lÉ™s How to pronounce pilotless (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms for pilot

Synonyms: Noun

airman, aviator, birdman, flier (also flyer)

Synonyms: Verb

coach, counsel, guide, lead, mentor, shepherd, show, tutor

Synonyms: Adjective

developmental, experimental, trial

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Verb

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed. guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers. guided the scouts through the cave lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order. led his team to victory steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly. steered the ship through a narrow channel pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course. piloted the bill through the Senate engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan. engineered his son's election to the governorship

Examples of pilot in a Sentence

Noun

the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane

Verb

He is learning how to pilot a helicopter. He skillfully piloted the ship into port during the storm.

Adjective

The group conducted a pilot program. a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Among those named was Michael Nash, a Wrangell attorney and pilot who died in a plane crash July 11 near Ketchikan, said diocese spokesman Dominique Johnson. Author: Rachel D'oro, Anchorage Daily News, "7 Alaska clergy members named in Catholic church review of sexual misconduct allegations," 23 Aug. 2019 On Monday, after skipping the races in Bristol, Tennessee, near where his plane crashed after a hard landing, Earnhardt thanked his pilots, emergency responders and hospital workers. Steve Almasy, CNN, "Dale Earnhardt Jr. still has sore back but plans on racing at Darlington," 22 Aug. 2019 By the end of the pilot, this occasional mentor, whose name is Sky (Isaiah Johnson), is revealed to be dead. Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "A Rare Show That Explores the Nuances of Black Boyhood," 22 Aug. 2019 Both flights crashed after experiencing drastic speed fluctuations during ascent, and their pilots tried to return to the ground after takeoff. John Bacon, USA TODAY, "Are Max 737s closer to flying? FAA 'looks forward' to international panel's findings as grounding drags on," 21 Aug. 2019 Chief politics writer Seth Richardson is your pilot. Laura Hancock, cleveland.com, "Ohio Speaker Householder’s support of death penalty waning: Capitol Letter," 21 Aug. 2019 We are truly blessed that all on board escaped with no serious injuries, including our daughter, our two pilots and our dog Gus. Michelle R. Martinelli, For The Win, "Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks out for first time since plane crash: 'We are truly blessed'," 19 Aug. 2019 Sometimes, before sending a plane off to combat, WASPs would leave a note for its next pilot, occasionally sealing the missive with a red-lipsticked kiss. oregonlive.com, "Dorothy Olsen, daring World War II pilot from Oregon, dies at 103," 12 Aug. 2019 Brady would like more people to learn how committed his fellow pilots were to their rescue missions. David Tarrant, Dallas News, "Arlington, Texas, is a finalist for new $150M National Medal of Honor Museum," 25 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Although originally a Cold War program the testing of adversary aircraft continues to this day; in September 2017 a Su-27 Flanker jet piloted by a U.S. Air Force officer crashed in the Nevada Test and Training Range. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Very Real Aircraft of Area 51," 19 July 2019 Cars piloted by people will soon be less desirable—perhaps even outlawed. A.j. Baime, WSJ, "A Porsche 911 Fan Finds His Car for Life," 26 Mar. 2019 Weber might not have been up in the air, but piloting an exact replica of a 747 isn’t bad for a sixth grader—especially an aviation geek like him. Noah Kaufman, Condé Nast Traveler, "Peter From 'The Bachelorette' Could Be Piloting Your Next Delta Flight," 20 Aug. 2019 Parker, 53, died Friday afternoon in a stunt plane piloted by veteran stunt pilot Franklin Augustus, who also died in the crash. Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, "‘She was my everything,' says husband of TV anchor Nancy Parker after fatal plane crash," 17 Aug. 2019 In the pork plants that piloted this method, for example, USDA inspectors conducted an average of 24 checks per shift for contamination on carcasses, compared to 11 checks in traditional plants, the agency said. Suzy Khimm, NBC News, "Tyson wants fewer government inspectors in one of its beef plants. Food safety advocates are raising alarms.," 14 Aug. 2019 Our group piled into the back of an ATV piloted by Pontus Sjoholm, the hotel’s chef and our foraging maestro. Andrea Sachs, chicagotribune.com, "Forest to table: An invitation to a DIY dining adventure in Sweden," 12 Aug. 2019 While Eagle was on the lunar surface, the Columbia Command Module, piloted by Michael Collins, was orbiting 60 miles above them. Fox News, "Apollo 11: 50 years on, the Eagle lunar module serves as a reminder of mankind’s ability to innovate," 18 July 2019 The agency is also funding the Double Asteroid Redirection Test mission (DART), which will pilot the technologies needed to do something about any threatening near-Earth objects. Tim Fernholz, Quartz, "NASA won’t launch a mission to hunt deadly asteroids," 5 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Drivers heading south will encounter a pilot car at mile 40 of the Sterling Highway, north of the Quartz Creek campground. Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News, "Sterling Highway open with pilot cars as wet, windy weather calms Swan Lake fire spread," 1 Sep. 2019 Milwaukee decided to allow the scooters if the companies agree to enter a pilot study to examine best practices. Keith Schubert, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee learning from other cities' woes while rolling out e-scooters," 22 July 2019 The taps will mostly be pilot program beers, which Althouse described as fresh, non-aged beers that Dan Russo, Oakshire’s director of brewing, has been given full creative license to produce.