autogiros

Variant of autogiro

noun pl. autogiros

an aircraft that moves forward by means of a propeller and is supported in the air mainly by means of a large rotor mounted horizontally above the fuselage and turned by air pressure rather than motor power: largely superseded by the helicopter

Origin: Sp, orig. a trademark, Autogiro < auto-, auto- + Gr gyros, a circle: see gyrate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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