Meaning of pilot In English

• 0 a person who flies an aircraft:

  • a fighter/helicopter/bomber/airline pilot

• 1 a person with detailed knowledge of an area of water, such as that around a port, who goes onto a ship to direct it safely

• 2 a programme that is made to introduce a new radio or television series and test how popular it is:

  • If you'd seen the pilot, you'd know why they decided not to make a complete series of programmes!

• 3 a small flame that burns all the time in a gas device, such as a cooker or a device for heating water, and that starts the main flame burning when the gas is turned on

• 4 A pilot plan, product, or system is used to test how good something is before introducing it:

  • If the pilot scheme is successful, many more homes will be offered the new television service.

• 5 to fly an aircraft:

  • She piloted the aircraft to safety after one of the engines failed.

• 6 to test a new product before it is sold:

  • We shall pilot several new cosmetic products to selected potential purchasers.

• 7 to be responsible for introducing a new law or system and making certain it is established:

  • 20 years ago he piloted a bill through Parliament on working conditions.

• 8 to direct a ship into a port or through an area of water

• 9 a person who flies an aircraft, or someone who directs a ship safely through an area of water:

  • an airline pilot

  • a harbor pilot

• 10 (of a plan, product, or system) done as a test before introducing it:

  • From the pilot episode, this looks to be one of the best new shows we’ll see this fall.

• 11 a person who flies aircraft:

  • He became a commercial airline pilot after leaving the airforce.

  • He earned his pilot's licence in the US.

• 12 a television or radio programme that is made to test how popular it is with an audience in order to decide whether to make a new series:

  • They commissioned a pilot to test audience reactions.

• 13 a test done by a business over a short period to see if a particular product, service, etc. is worth investing in:

  • Assuming the pilot is successful, there are plans to build a further two factories by the end of next year.

• 14 to fly an aircraft:

  • She pilots planes for the US Postal Service.

• 15 to test a new idea for a product, service, etc. over a short period to see whether it is worth developing and investing in:

  • The scheme is being piloted by a few councils with a view to extending it nationwide.

• 16 to be responsible for making sure something develops or goes through a process without problems:

  • pilot sth through sth Two congressmen, one Democrat and one Republican, piloted the bill through the House.

• 17 a pilot product, programme, project, etc. is something that is tested first over a short period to see whether it is worth developing and investing in:

  • pilot programme/scheme/study The pilot scheme proved that CCTV was a cost-effective way of reducing inner-city crime.

  • The pilot episode of the series had the biggest viewing numbers of the year.