Definition

1. Noun:
   • The primary rotating assembly of airfoils (blades) on a helicopter that generates the aerodynamic lift necessary to keep the aircraft airborne. It is the principal rotor system, as opposed to a smaller tail rotor.

Usage

• The term main rotor is used specifically to describe the large, horizontal rotor system that provides lift and propulsion for a helicopter. It is a technical term central to aviation and aeronautical engineering.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The helicopter's main rotor began to spin faster as it prepared for takeoff.
  • Engineers conducted a thorough inspection of the main rotor blades after the flight.
  • The force generated by the main rotor is what allows a helicopter to hover in one place.

Advanced Usage

• The main rotor system's pitch and rotation speed are controlled by the pilot to maneuver the helicopter.
• In technical descriptions, the main rotor is often contrasted with the anti-torque tail rotor.

Variants and Related Words

• Rotor (n): A general term for a rotating part of a machine. In aviation, it can refer to the main rotor, tail rotor, or the propeller of an aircraft.
• Tail rotor (n): The smaller, vertical rotor mounted at the tail of a conventional helicopter, used to counteract the torque produced by the main rotor and provide directional control.
• Rotor blade (n): An individual airfoil that is part of the main rotor assembly.
• Rotor head (n): The central hub to which the main rotor blades are attached and which facilitates their complex motions.

Synonyms

• Lifting rotor: A direct synonym emphasizing its function.
• Primary rotor: A synonym emphasizing its role as the principal system.

Related Phrases

• Main rotor disk: The circular area swept by the rotating main rotor blades.
• Main rotor mast: The shaft that transmits power from the engine to the main rotor head.

Noun

1. rotor consisting of large rotating airfoils on a single-rotor helicopter that produce the lift to support the helicopter in the air