Navigate vs. Pilot — What's the Difference?

To plan and direct the course of a vessel or vehicle

One who operates or is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight.

To give directions to the driver of an automobile, especially by reading a map. Used of a passenger

One who, though not belonging to a ship's company, is licensed to conduct a ship into and out of port or through dangerous waters.

To know or determine a migratory course. Used of an animal

The helmsman of a ship.

To travel over a planned course or route, especially in a boat or ship

One who guides or directs a course of action for others.

To make or find a course or way

The part of a tool, device, or machine that leads or guides the whole.

To make sequential progress through something

A pilot light, as in a stove.

To direct (a vessel or vehicle) over a planned course.

A television program produced as a prototype of a series being considered for adoption by a network.

To follow or find a course across, over, or through

To serve as the pilot of (a plane, for example).

To progress through (something) sequentially

To steer or control the course of

(transitive) To plan, control and record the position and course of a vehicle, ship, aircraft, etc., on a journey; to follow a planned course.

Serving as a tentative model for future experiment or development

(intransitive) To give directions, as from a map, to someone driving a vehicle.

Serving or leading as guide.

(intransitive) To travel over water in a ship; to sail.

A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.

To move between web pages, menus, etc. by means of hyperlinks, mouse clicks, or any other mechanism.

A person who knows well the depths and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.

To find a way through a difficult situation or process.

A guide book for maritime navigation.

To journey by water; to go in a vessel or ship; to perform the duties of a navigator; to use the waters as a highway or channel for commerce or communication; to sail.

An instrument for detecting the compass error.

To direct or operate a vehicle, especially a ship or aircraft.

A pilot vehicle.

To pass through, over, or around; - used especially of a course having obstacles; as, to navigate around all the randomly scattered tables to the far side of the room.

A person authorised to drive such a vehicle during an escort.

To pass over in ships; to sail over or on; as, to navigate the Atlantic.

A guide or escort through an unknown or dangerous area.

To steer, direct, or manage in sailing; to conduct (ships) upon the water by the art or skill of seamen; as, to navigate a ship.

Something serving as a test or trial.

To pass through, over, or around; - used especially of a course having obstacles; as, to navigate all the randomly scattered tables to the far side of the room.

(mining) The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.

Travel by boat on a boat propelled by wind or by other means;

(aviation) A person who is in charge of the controls of an aircraft.

Act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance;

(television) A sample episode of a proposed TV series produced to decide if it should be made or not. If approved, typically the first episode of an actual TV series.

Direct carefully and safely;

(rail transport) A cowcatcher.

(motorsport) A driver.

A pilot light.

One who flies a kite.

A short plug, sometimes made interchangeable, at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool.

Made or used as a test or demonstration of capability.

Used to control or activate another device.

Being a vehicle to warn other road users of the presence of an oversize vehicle/combination.

(transitive) To control (an aircraft or watercraft).

(transitive) To guide (a vessel) through coastal waters.

(transitive) To test or have a preliminary trial of (an idea, a new product, etc.)

To serve as the leading locomotive on a double-headed train.

One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman.

Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees.

Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course.

An instrument for detecting the compass error.

The cowcatcher of a locomotive.

One who flies, or is qualified to fly, an airplane, balloon, or other flying machine.

A short plug at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool. Pilots are sometimes made interchangeable.

The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel.

A filmed or taped episode of a proposed television series, produced as an example of the series. It may be shown only to those television broadcast executives who may decide whether to buy the rights to the series, or aired to test viewer reaction or to interest sponsors. Also called pilot film or pilot tape.

To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous.

Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties.

To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft); to operate (an airplane).

Someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight

A person qualified to guide ships through difficult waters going into or out of a harbor

A program exemplifying a contemplated series; intended to attract sponsors

An original model on which something is patterned

Small auxiliary gas burner that provides a flame to ignite a larger gas burner

An inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track

Fly a plane

Act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance;