- a device used to retard the fall of a person or package from an aircraft, consisting of a large fabric canopy connected to a harness
- (of troops, supplies, etc) to land or cause to land by parachute from an aircraft
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
par•a•chute /ˈpærəˌʃut/USA pronunciation
n., v., -chut•ed, -chut•ing.
n. [countable]
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- Aeronauticsa folding, circular, fabric device with cords to attach to a person or thing in order to allow it to descend slowly from a height, esp. from an aircraft:The parachute opened and he drifted slowly down to the ground.
v.
- to (cause or allow to) let drop or land (troops, etc.) by parachute: [~ + object]to parachute supplies into the region.[no object]The wounded pilot parachuted slowly down.
par•a•chute
(par′ə sho̅o̅t′),USA pronunciation n., v., -chut•ed, -chut•ing.
n.
v.t.
v.i.
par′a•chut′ic, adj.
par′a•chut′ist, par′a•chut′er, n.
n.
- Aeronauticsa 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, esp. from an aircraft, rendered effective by the resistance of the air that expands it during the descent and reduces the velocity of its fall.
- AeronauticsSee parachute brake.
- Time[Horol.]a shockproofing device for the balance staff of a watch, consisting of a yielding, springlike support for the bearing at either end.
- [Informal.]
- Informal Termsthe aggregate of benefits, as severance pay or vacation pay, given an employee who is dismissed from a company.
- BusinessSee golden parachute.
v.t.
- to drop or land (troops, equipment, supplies, etc.) by parachute.
v.i.
- Aeronauticsto descend by parachute.
- French, equivalent. to para- para-2 + chute fall; see chute1
- 1775–85
par′a•chut′ist, par′a•chut′er, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
parachute /ˈpærəˌʃuːt/ n