parachute
[ par-uh-shoot ]
/ ˈpær əˌʃut /
noun
a folding, umbrellalike, fabric device with cords supporting a harness or straps for allowing a person, object, package, etc., to float down safely through the air from a great height, especially from an aircraft, rendered effective by the resistance of the air that expands it during the descent and reduces the velocity of its fall.
Horology.
a shockproofing device for the balance staff of a watch, consisting of a yielding, springlike support for the bearing at either end.
Informal.
- the aggregate of benefits, as severance pay or vacation pay, given an employee who is dismissed from a company.
- golden parachute.
verb (used with object), par·a·chut·ed, par·a·chut·ing.
to drop or land (troops, equipment, supplies, etc.) by parachute.
verb (used without object), par·a·chut·ed, par·a·chut·ing.
to descend by parachute.
OTHER WORDS FROM parachute
par·a·chut·ic, adjective par·a·chut·ist, par·a·chut·er, nounWords nearby parachute
Example sentences from the Web for parachute
British Dictionary definitions for parachute
parachute
/ (ˈpærəˌʃuːt) /
noun
- a device used to retard the fall of a man or package from an aircraft, consisting of a large fabric canopy connected to a harness
- (as modifier)parachute troops Sometimes shortened to: chute See also brake parachute
verb
(of troops, supplies, etc) to land or cause to land by parachute from an aircraft
(in an election) to bring in (a candidate, esp someone well known) from outside the constituency
Derived forms of parachute
parachutist, nounWord Origin for parachute
C18: from French, from
para- ² +
chute fall