Definition

1. Noun:
   • A kitchen utensil for beating eggs or whipping cream: An eggbeater is a handheld device, typically with rotating blades or beaters, used to mix, aerate, or whip ingredients like eggs or cream.
   • (Informal, chiefly US) A helicopter: In slang, "eggbeater" refers to a helicopter, humorously comparing the rotating motion of its overhead rotor blades to the action of the kitchen tool.

Examples

• Noun (Kitchen utensil):
  • She used an old-fashioned eggbeater to whip the cream for the dessert.
  • Before electric mixers were common, cooks relied on a manual eggbeater.
• Noun (Informal: helicopter):
  • We heard the distinct sound of an eggbeater approaching the landing pad.
  • The news crew arrived in a noisy eggbeater to cover the story.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used informally and can add a colorful, slightly humorous tone when referring to a helicopter, especially in aviation circles or casual conversation.
• As a kitchen tool, it can be specified as a manual eggbeater or rotary eggbeater to distinguish it from electric mixers.

Variants and Related Words

• Hand mixer: An electric version of an eggbeater.
• Whisk: A simpler utensil for beating, typically a wire loop.
• Rotary beater: Another name for a manual eggbeater.

Synonyms

• For the utensil: whisk, beater, mixer.
• For the aircraft (slang): chopper, helo, whirlybird.

Related Phrases

• "Sound like an eggbeater": A descriptive phrase for a loud, clattering, or buzzing noise, reminiscent of either the kitchen tool or a helicopter.
  • That old engine sounds like an eggbeater.

Notes

• The slang meaning for "helicopter" is primarily American and may not be universally understood in all English-speaking contexts. The kitchen utensil meaning is standard.

Noun

1. a mixer for beating eggs or whipping cream
2. an aircraft without wings that obtains its lift from the rotation of overhead blades