helm
To control the helm ofTo control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).
» Tom took the helm.
CK · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
4 senses(transitive)To control the helm (noun sense 1) of (a marine vessel); to be in charge of steering (a vessel).
(figuratively, transitive)To direct or lead (a project, etc.); to manage (an organization).
(transitive)To lay out (stalks of corn, or straw) straight to be used for thatching roofs; to yelm.
(archaic, poetic, transitive)To cover (a head) with a helmet; to provide (someone) with a helmet; to helmet.
- be at or take the helm of
Examples
7 sentencesTom took the helm.
This great helm weighs quite a bit.
Without thinking twice, I grabbed the helm.
deOhne lange nachzudenken ergriff ich das Steuerrad des Schiffes. — al_ex_an_der
Bad people are at the helm of the nation.
ruПлохие люди управляют народом. — odexed
deSchlechte Menschen stehen am Steuer des Landes. — Yorwba
The captain stood abaft the helm, steering the ship.
Origin
The noun is derived from Middle English helm, helme (“tiller of a ship”), from Old EnglishThe noun is derived from Middle English helm, helme (“tiller of a ship”), from Old English helma (“helm, tiller”), from Proto-Germanic *helmô (“handle; helm, tiller”), either from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover”) or from the same source as haulm and helm (“bentgrass, straw”) (see below), Proto-Indo-European *ḱélh₂-m(on)- (“reed, hollow stalk”), one form of which then developed a specialized meaning “handle” in Germanic.
From Middle English helmen, helmi (“to provide with a helmet; (figuratively) to cover; to protect”), from Old English helmian (“to cover”), ġehelmian (“to cover with a helmet; to crown”), from (ġe- (prefix with an intensifying effect, or forming nouns or verbs denoting processes or results) +) helm (“helmet”) (see further at etymology 2) + -ian (suffix forming verbs from adjectives and nouns).
The noun is possibly:
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Forms
helms, helming, helmed, helmedSynonyms
1 synonymsWord family
1 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle