pilot
noun [ C ]
uk/ˈpaɪlət/ us TRANSPORT
a person who flies aircraft:
He became a commercial airline pilot after leaving the airforce.
He earned his pilot's licence in the US.
MARKETING
a television or radio programme that is made to test how popular it is with an audience in order to decide whether to make a new series:
They commissioned a pilot to test audience reactions.
COMMERCE, MARKETING
a test done by a business over a short period to see if a particular product, service, etc. is worth investing in:
Assuming the pilot is successful, there are plans to build a further two factories by the end of next year.
See also
autopilot
pilot
verb [ T ]
uk/ˈpaɪlət/ us TRANSPORT
to fly an aircraft:
She pilots planes for the US Postal Service.
MARKETING
to test a new idea for a product, service, etc. over a short period to see whether it is worth developing and investing in:
The scheme is being piloted by a few councils with a view to extending it nationwide.
GOVERNMENT, WORKPLACE
to be responsible for making sure something develops or goes through a process without problems:
pilot sth through sth Two congressmen, one Democrat and one Republican, piloted the bill through the House.
pilot
adjective [ before noun ]
MARKETING uk/ˈpaɪlət/ usa pilot product, programme, project, etc. is something that is tested first over a short period to see whether it is worth developing and investing in:
pilot programme/scheme/study The pilot scheme proved that CCTV was a cost-effective way of reducing inner-city crime.
The pilot episode of the series had the biggest viewing numbers of the year.