parachute

Pronunciation: /ˈpæɹəʃuːt/

The English word “parachute” has 9 meanings listed here.

noun

A device, generally constructed from fabric, that is designed to employ air resistance to control the fall of an object or person, causing them to float instead of falling.
A web or fold of skin extending between the legs of gliding mammals, such as the flying squirrel and colugo.
Any of various mushrooms with broad, domed caps.
A small collar which fastens around the scrotum and from which weights can be hung.
A large sheet of fabric used in children's physical education, often colorful, with handles allowing many people to control its motion.

To jump, fall, descend, etc. using such a device.
To introduce into a place using such a device.
To place (somebody) in an organisation in a position of authority without their having previous experience there; used with in or into.
To wrap illicit drugs in a covering before swallowing them, so that they will be released for absorption when the covering dissolves within the body.

Borrowed from French parachute, from para- (“protection against”) (as in parasol) and chute (“fall”).

Keep exploring: in the interactive dictionary every word of a definition is a link. Open “parachute” there

The English dictionary on Glottosphere has 650,529 entries with a page. Browse the English dictionary.

Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.