pi|lot

pi|lot «PY luht», noun, verb, adjective.

–n.

1. a person who steers a ship or boat; steersman; helmsman.

2. a person whose business it is to steer ships in or out of a harbor or through dangerous waters. A ship takes on a pilot before coming into a large harbor or proceeding up a dangerous river.

3. a person who operates the controls of an aircraft in flight, especially one qualified and licensed to do this.

4. Figurative. a guide; leader.

5. a device in a machine or motor that guides or activates a larger or more complex part.

6. U.S. the cowcatcher, as of a locomotive or streetcar.

7. a pilot film, study, or the like: »

A pilot is now being filmed (New York Times).

–v.t.

1. to act as the pilot of; steer or navigate: »

The aviator pilots his airplane. Figurative. The Finance Minister was obviously unhappy while piloting the Bill (London Times).

2. Figurative. to guide; lead: »

The manager piloted us through the big factory.

–adj.

1. of or having to do with a pilot or pilots: »

a pilot launch.

2. that acts as a pilot or in any way as a guide: »

a pilot star.

3. a) that serves as an advance, preliminary, or experimental version of some action or operation to be carried out on a larger or more elaborate scale: »

a pilot study, a pilot film for a new television series.

b) hat guides, controls, or activates the operation of another, usually a larger and more complex, part: »

a pilot switch.

╂[< Middle French pilot < Italian piloto, alteration of unrecorded Late Greek pēdēs < Greek pēdón steering oar]

–pi´lot|less, adjective.