What does autopilot mean?
Word: Autopilot
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Autopilot means a system that steers an aircraft, ship or car by itself, without a person controlling it all the time.
How do you spell autopilot?
Syllables: au - to - pi - lot
Tricky part: Pilot has only one l. Autopillot is the slip that examiners see most.
Watch out for: autopillot, autopilote
Memory tip: With the autopilot on, a pilot can fly with one hand off the controls, and pilot needs only one l.
Idioms and Phrases
- on autopilot: Doing something without thinking about it, out of habit. Example: "I was so sleepy that I brushed my teeth on autopilot."
Autopilot in a sentence
Example 1: The captain switched on the autopilot once the plane reached cruising height.
Example 2: Even with the autopilot on, pilots keep watching the instruments.
Example 3: Some new cars have an autopilot that helps them stay in their lane.
Fun Fact
In 1914, Lawrence Sperry showed off an early autopilot in France by flying past the crowd with his hands off the controls.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the prefix that completes the word:
pilot
a) otto
b) aughto
c) ato
d) auto
Show answer
d) auto. Auto, meaning self, joins pilot to name a system that flies by itself.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
autop_l_t
a) e, o
b) i, a
c) a, o
d) i, o
Show answer
d) i, o. Pilot has an i after the p and an o before the final t.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the correctly spelt word:
a) cockpitt
b) aeroplain
c) autopilot
d) runwey
Show answer
c) autopilot. Autopilot is right; aeroplane ends in plane, cockpit has one t and runway ends in way.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
lotapuoti
a) autopilot
b) lotion
c) toolkit
d) outfit
Show answer
a) autopilot. Toolkit needs a k, lotion an n and outfit an f, so the nine letters make autopilot.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Why do long flights use an autopilot?
a) so the plane keeps its course without steering
b) so the engines can run without using any fuel
c) so the plane can land without needing a runway
d) so the cabin stays cool and quiet for passengers
Show answer
a) so the plane keeps its course without steering
2. The captain set the autopilot, and the plane ____ along at the same height.
a) crashed
b) cruised
c) skidded
d) stalled
Show answer
b) cruised
