Helicopter vs. Whirlybird — What's the Difference?

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally-spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally.

A helicopter.

A type of aircraft which derives both lift and propulsion from one or more sets of horizontally revolving overhead rotors. It is capable of moving vertically and horizontally, the direction of motion being controlled by the pitch of the rotor blades.

(slang) A helicopter.

Transport by helicopter

(informal) A samara

An aircraft that derives its lift from blades that rotate about an approximately vertical central axis.

An aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades

To go or transport by helicopter.

(aviation) 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 that stabilize the aircraft.

A powered troweling machine with spinning blades used to spread concrete.

(botany) The winged fruit of certain trees, such as ash, elm, and maple.

A dragonfly.

A whirling trick performed with devil sticks.

(transitive) To transport by helicopter.

(intransitive) To travel by helicopter.

To rotate like a helicopter blade.

To overprotect one's children, as a helicopter parent does.

A heavier-than-air aircraft whose lift is provided by the aerodynamic forces on rotating blades rather than on fixed wings. Contrasted with fixed-wing aircraft.

To travel in a helicopter.

To transport in a helicopter.

An aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades