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    pilot

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    pilot
    I
    pi‧lot1 W3 /ˈpaɪlət/ 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
    pilot2 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.