'PILOT' definitions:

Definition of 'pilot'

From: WordNet
noun
Someone who is licensed to operate an aircraft in flight [syn: pilot, airplane pilot]
noun
A person qualified to guide ships through difficult waters going into or out of a harbor
noun
A program exemplifying a contemplated series; intended to attract sponsors [syn: pilot program, pilot film, pilot]
noun
Something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies; "this painting is a copy of the original" [syn: original, archetype, pilot]
noun
Small auxiliary gas burner that provides a flame to ignite a larger gas burner [syn: pilot burner, pilot light, pilot]
noun
An inclined metal frame at the front of a locomotive to clear the track [syn: fender, buffer, cowcatcher, pilot]
verb
Operate an airplane; "The pilot flew to Cuba" [syn: fly, aviate, pilot]
verb
Act as the navigator in a car, plane, or vessel and plan, direct, plot the path and position of the conveyance; "Is anyone volunteering to navigate during the trip?"; "Who was navigating the ship during the accident?" [syn: navigate, pilot]

Definition of 'Pilot'

From: GCIDE
  • Pilot \Pi"lot\, n. [F. pilote, prob. from D. peillood plummet, sounding lead; peilen, pegelen, to sound, measure (fr. D. & G. peil, pegel, a sort of measure, water mark) + lood lead, akin to E. lead. The pilot, then, is the lead man, i. e., he who throws the lead. See Pail, and Lead a metal.]
  • 1. (Naut.) One employed to steer a vessel; a helmsman; a steersman. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Specifically, a person duly qualified, and licensed by authority, to conduct vessels into and out of a port, or in certain waters, for a fixed rate of fees. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Figuratively: A guide; a director of another through a difficult or unknown course. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. An instrument for detecting the compass error. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. The cowcatcher of a locomotive. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (A["e]ronautics) One who flies, or is qualified to fly, an airplane, balloon, or other flying machine. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]
  • 7. (Mach.) A short plug at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool. Pilots are sometimes made interchangeable. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 8. (Mining) The heading or excavation of relatively small dimensions, first made in the driving of a larger tunnel. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  • 9. (Television) a filmed or taped episode of a proposed television series, produced as an example of the series. It may be shown only to those television broadcast executives who may decide whether to buy the rights to the series, or aired to test viewer reaction or to interest sponsors. Also called pilot film or pilot tape. [PJC]
  • Pilot balloon, a small balloon sent up in advance of a large one, to show the direction and force of the wind.
  • Pilot bird. (Zool.) (a) A bird found near the Caribbee Islands; -- so called because its presence indicates to mariners their approach to these islands. --Crabb. (b) The black-bellied plover. [Local, U.S.]
  • Pilot boat, a strong, fast-sailing boat used to carry and receive pilots as they board and leave vessels.
  • Pilot bread, ship biscuit.
  • Pilot cloth, a coarse, stout kind of cloth for overcoats.
  • Pilot engine, a locomotive going in advance of a train to make sure that the way is clear.
  • Pilot fish. (Zool) (a) A pelagic carangoid fish (Naucrates ductor); -- so named because it is often seen in company with a shark, swimming near a ship, on account of which sailors imagine that it acts as a pilot to the shark. (b) The rudder fish (Seriola zonata).
  • Pilot jack, a flag or signal hoisted by a vessel for a pilot.
  • Pilot jacket, a pea jacket.
  • Pilot nut (Bridge Building), a conical nut applied temporarily to the threaded end of a pin, to protect the thread and guide the pin when it is driven into a hole. --Waddell.
  • Pilot snake (Zool.) (a) A large North American snake (Coluber obsoleus). It is lustrous black, with white edges to some of the scales. Called also mountain black snake. (b) The pine snake.
  • Pilot whale. (Zool.) Same as Blackfish, 1. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Pilot'

From: GCIDE
  • Pilot \Pi"lot\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Piloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Piloting.] [Cf. F. piloter.]
  • 1. To direct the course of, as of a ship, where navigation is dangerous. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Figuratively: To guide, as through dangers or difficulties. "The art of piloting a state." --Berkeley. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (A["e]ronautics) To fly, or act as pilot of (an aircraft); to operate (an airplane). [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Definition of 'pilot'

From: GCIDE
  • Cowcatcher \Cow"catch`er\ (-k?ch`?r), n. A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on a railway, as cattle; the pilot. [U.S.]
  • Syn: fender, buffer, pilot. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'pilot'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Acronyms for 'PILOT'

From: V.E.R.A.
  • Programmed Inquiry, Language Or Teaching (IBM)

Words containing 'PILOT'