Pilot Meaning
/ˈpaɪ̯.lət/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA person who steers a ship, a helmsman.
nounA person who knows well the depths, shoals, and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.
Sentence Examples
A moment's hesitation may cost a pilot his life.
The pilot landed the airplane in the field.
The crash happened seconds after the pilot reported engine trouble.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The experienced ____ guided the airplane safely through the stormy weather.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ announced that the flight would be delayed by thirty minutes due to air traffic congestion.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French pilot, pillot, from Italian pilota, piloto, older also pedotta, pedot(t)o (the form in pil- is probably influenced by pileggiare (“to sail, navigate”)); ultimately from unattested Byzantine Greek *πηδώτης (*pēdṓtēs, “helmsman”), from Ancient Greek πηδόν (pēdón, “blade of an oar, oar”), hence also Ancient and Modern Greek πηδάλιον (pēdálion, “rudder”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"They scud before the wind, and sail in open sea.
Ahead of all the master pilot steers;
And, as he leads, the following navy veers."
— 1697, Virgil, “The First Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"“I agreed with my husband when he said that to do the business properly we must do a pilot first.”"
— 2018, Tsitsi Dangarembga, This Mournable Body, Faber & Faber (2020), page 40:
"I think her biggest deal was she starred in a pilot.[…]Well, the way they pick TV shows is they make one show. That show's called a pilot. Then they show that one show to the people who pick shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they wanna make more shows."
— 1994, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary, Pulp Fiction, spoken by Jules (Samuel L. Jackson):
"Julia has become quite a good kite pilot. She has learned how to repeatedly buzz her father's head, coming within two feet, and not hitting him."
— 2003, John P. Glaser, A Father's Collage, page 31:
"I have visited more than half a dozen carrier training facilities, spent over 150 hours on jumpseats, piloted a Lockheed 1011 from MIA to LAX, visited numerous towers, rapcons, and centers, and discussed our commercial Air Transport System with everyone involved."
— 1975, John H. Reed, Transportation Safety Board, Safety Information, page 30:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The experienced ____ guided the airplane safely through the stormy weather.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ announced that the flight would be delayed by thirty minutes due to air traffic congestion.