par|a|chute

par|a|chute «PAR uh shoot», noun, verb, -chut|ed, -chut|ing.

–n.

1. an apparatus somewhat like an umbrella, made of silk or nylon and used in descending safely through the air from a great height, as from an aircraft: »

There are huge parachutes used in guided missile tests, chutes to stabilize torpedoes dropped from airplanes…and a parachute that is intended to yank an airplane out of a spin if anything goes wrong in test flights (Wall Street Journal).

2. the expansible fold of skin of a flying mammal or reptile, such as the flying squirrel.

3. any contrivance, natural or artificial, serving to check a fall through the air.

–v.i.

to come down by, or as if by, a parachute: »

The men in the burning plane parachuted safely to the ground.

–v.t.

to convey by a parachute.

╂[< French parachute < para- para-² + chute a fall]

–par´a|chute|like´, adjective.