airdrop

[ air-drop ]

verb (used with object)

, air·dropped, air·drop·ping.

1. to drop (persons, equipment, etc.) by parachute from an aircraft in flight.

noun

1. the act or process of airdropping.

airdrop

/ ˈɛəˌdrɒp /

noun

1. a delivery of supplies, troops, etc, from an aircraft by parachute

verb

1. tr to deliver (supplies, etc) by an airdrop

Other Words From

• air-droppa·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of airdrop¹

First recorded in 1945–50; air ¹ + drop

Example Sentences

That meant finding ways to deliver 6 million meals, 2 million gallons of fuel and a million cases of bottled water to hundreds of bases and outposts — some reachable only by airdrop — each month.

From Los Angeles Times

Search-and-rescue efforts continue, and aid deliveries have been made by airdrops and mules.

From BBC

The photographer, meanwhile, was only able to airdrop pictures, says Nita.

From BBC

The airdrop is one of several events organised to mark the anniversary of Operation Market Garden, an ambitious military offensive designed to speed up the invasion of Nazi Germany and shorten the war in Europe.

From BBC

The May 19 airdrops at Second Thomas Shoal by the Philippine military sparked a race by the Chinese coast guard and Philippine navy personnel aboard small motorboats to retrieve the four packages.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• fly