/ ˈpærəʃuːt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
(also informal chute ) a device that is attached to people or objects to make them fall slowly and safely when they are dropped from an aircraft. It consists of a large piece of thin cloth that opens out in the air to form an umbrella shape :
Planes dropped supplies by parachute.
a parachute drop / jump
a parachute regiment
■ verb
1.
[ v , usually + adv. / prep. ] to jump from an aircraft using a parachute :
The pilot was able to parachute to safety.
She regularly goes parachuting.
2.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to drop sb/sth from an aircraft by parachute
••
WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: from French para- protection against + chute fall.