parachute

[par-uh-shoot]

noun

1. 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.

2. parachute brake.

3. Horology.,  a shockproofing device for the balance staff of a watch, consisting of a yielding, springlike support for the bearing at either end.

4. Informal.

   1. the aggregate of benefits, as severance pay or vacation pay, given an employee who is dismissed from a company.

   2. golden parachute.

verb (used with object)

parachuted, parachuting 

1. to drop or land (troops, equipment, supplies, etc.) by parachute.

verb (used without object)

parachuted, parachuting 

1. to descend by parachute.

parachute

/ ˈpærəˌʃuːt /

noun

1. 1. 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

   2. Sometimes shortened to: chute. ( as modifier ) See also brake parachute

      parachute troops

verb

1. (of troops, supplies, etc) to land or cause to land by parachute from an aircraft

2. (in an election) to bring in (a candidate, esp someone well known) from outside the constituency

Other Word Forms

• parachutic adjective
• parachutist noun
• parachuter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of parachute¹

1775–85; < French, equivalent to para- para- ² + chute fall; chute ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of parachute¹

C18: from French, from _para- ² + chute fall

Example Sentences

Since January, federal immigration agents had been parachuting into the town and surrounding communities.

From Los Angeles Times

The inquest in Crook heard she was a "very experienced skydiver" but had made no attempt to deploy either her main or reserve parachutes.

From BBC

The attached parachutes have no GPS guidance systems, and though the pallets descend at a relatively slow 5 meters per second, their weight — 1 ton in most cases — makes them potentially lethal.

From Los Angeles Times

The team on the ground held its breath until the parachutes deployed and the crew was safely down.

From BBC

Pietsch, parachuted into the team after playing zero minutes in the series so far, was like a man possessed, hitting hard and often.

From BBC

Related Words

• bounce 
• bound 
• dive 
• drop 
• fall 
• hop 
• plummet 
• skip 
• surge 
• take 
• top 
• vault