I. pi ‧ lot 1 W3 /ˈpaɪlət/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: French ; Origin: pilote , from Italian pedota , from Greek pedon 'oar' ]
1 . someone who operates the controls of an aircraft or spacecraft:
an airline pilot
a fighter pilot
The official report into the accident says that it was caused by pilot error (=a mistake by the pilot) .
2 . someone with a special knowledge of a particular area of water, who is employed to guide ships across it:
a harbour pilot
3 . pilot study/project/scheme etc a small study, project etc which is carried out as a test to see if an idea, product etc will be successful:
a pilot scheme which could be extended to other areas
4 . a television programme that is made in order to test whether people like it and would watch it:
a pilot for a new sitcom
⇨ ↑ automatic pilot
• • •
THESAURUS
■ people on a plane
▪ pilot someone who operates the controls of a plane:
an airline pilot
|
He has a pilot’s licence.
▪ co-pilot a pilot who shares the control of a plane with the main pilot:
The pilot became ill, and the co-pilot had to land the plane.
▪ captain the pilot who is in charge of an aircraft:
This is your captain speaking. We will be arriving at Gatwick Airport in approximately 10 minutes.
▪ the flight crew all the people who work on a plane during a flight:
The flight crew asked for permission to land at Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport.
▪ the cabin crew the people whose job is to serve food and drinks to passengers on a plane:
The cabin crew will be serving drinks shortly.
▪ flight attendant someone whose job is to serve food and drink to passengers on a plane:
The flight attendant told him to go back to his seat.
▪ steward/stewardess a man/woman whose job is to serve food and drinks to passengers on a plane:
I asked the stewardess if I could have a blanket.
II. pilot 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
1 . to guide an aircraft, spacecraft, or ship as its pilot
2 . to test a new idea, product etc on people to find out whether it will be successful:
The new exams are currently being piloted in a number of areas.
3 . literary to help someone to go to a place
4 . British English to be responsible for making sure that a new law or plan is officially approved
pilot something through something
The Bill was piloted through Parliament by the health minister.