transitive verb or intransitive verbWord forms: -ated, -ating
to fly or fly in an aircraft
Word origin
[1885–90; back formation from aviation]This word is first recorded in the period 1885–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: reactor, retread, roller coaster, seminar, toner
Examples of 'aviate' in a sentence
aviate
There are three basic rules to being a pilot: aviate, navigate, communicate.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The priorities are 'aviate, navigate, communicate' — in that order.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Synonyms of 'aviate'
fly, pilot
More Synonyms of aviate
(verb)
Synonyms
fly
He flew a small plane to Cuba.
pilot
the first person to pilot an aircraft across the Pacific
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pilot
Definition
to act as pilot of
the first person to pilot an aircraft across the Pacific