pilot

noun

1. A person who steers a ship, a helmsman.

   “They scud before the wind, and sail in open sea. Ahead of all the master pilot steers; And, as he leads, the following navy veers.”

2. A person who knows well the depths, shoals, and currents of a harbor or coastal area, who is hired by a vessel to help navigate the harbor or coast.
3. A guide book for maritime navigation.
4. An instrument for detecting the compass error.
5. (Australia, informal)A pilot vehicle.
6. (Australia)A person authorised to drive such a vehicle during an escort.
7. A guide or escort through an unknown or dangerous area.

   “So we mounted our horses, and put out for that town, under the direction of two friendly Creeks we had taken for pilots.”

8. Something serving as a test or trial.

   “We would like to run a pilot in your facility before rolling out the program citywide.”

   ““I agreed with my husband when he said that to do the business properly we must do a pilot first.””

9. Something serving as a test or trial.
10. (attributive, often)A tone or signal, usually a single frequency, transmitted over a communications system for control or synchronization purposes.
11. A person who is in charge of the controls of an aircraft.
12. A sample episode of a proposed TV series produced to decide if it should be made or not. If approved, typically the first episode of an actual TV series.

    “I think her biggest deal was she starred in a pilot.[…]Well, the way they pick TV shows is they make one show. That show's called a pilot. Then they show that one show to the people who pick shows, and on the strength of that one show, they decide if they wanna make more shows.”

13. A cowcatcher.
14. (Europe)A racing driver.
15. A pilot light.
16. One who flies a kite.

    “Julia has become quite a good kite pilot. She has learned how to repeatedly buzz her father's head, coming within two feet, and not hitting him.”

17. A short plug, sometimes made interchangeable, at the end of a counterbore to guide the tool.
18. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of)Acronym of payment in lieu of taxes

adj

1. (not-comparable)Made or used as a test or demonstration of capability.

   “a pilot run of the new factory”

   “The pilot plant showed the need for major process changes.”

2. (not-comparable)Used to control or activate another device.

   “a pilot light”

3. (not-comparable)Being a vehicle to warn other road users of the presence of an oversize vehicle or combination.

   “a pilot vehicle”

verb

1. (transitive)To control (an aircraft or watercraft).

   “I have visited more than half a dozen carrier training facilities, spent over 150 hours on jumpseats, piloted a Lockheed 1011 from MIA to LAX, visited numerous towers, rapcons, and centers, and discussed our commercial Air Transport System with everyone involved.”

2. (transitive)To guide (a vessel) through coastal waters.
3. (transitive)To test or have a preliminary trial of (an idea, a new product, television show, etc.)
4. To serve as the leading locomotive on a double-headed train.

   “One of the Midland Lines' Birmingham R.C.W. Type 2 diesels, No. D5403, made the debut of its class in the Manchester area on July 28 when it appeared in the early hours on freight; after four days in the area it left for the south piloting B.R./Sulzer Type 4 diesel No. D88 on the 2.25 Manchester Central-St. Pancras.”

5. (transitive)To guide or conduct (a person) somewhere.

   “Thus it came about that, three days later, I descended from the train at Styles St. Mary, an absurd little station, with no apparent reason for existence, perched up in the midst of green fields and country lanes. John Cavendish was waiting on the platform, and piloted me out to the car.”