pilot

/ˈpī-lət/

Middle French pilote, from Italian pilota, alteration of pedota, from Middle Greek *pēdōtēs, from Greek pēda steering oars, plural of pēdon oar; probably akin to Greek pod-, pous foot

noun

  1. one employed to steer a ship : helmsman

  2. a person who is qualified and usually licensed to conduct a ship into and out of a port or in specified waters

  3. a person who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft

verb

  1. to act as a guide to : lead or conduct over a usually difficult course

  2. to set and conn the course of

  3. to act as pilot of

guide lead steer pilot engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed. guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers. lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

adjective

  1. serving as a guiding or tracing device, an activating or auxiliary unit, or a trial apparatus or operation

a pilot study