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helm

1 American  
[helm] / hɛlm /

noun

  1. Nautical.

    1. a wheel or tiller by which a ship is steered.

    2. the entire steering apparatus of a ship.

    3. the angle with the fore-and-aft line made by a rudder when turned.

      15-degree helm.

  2. the place or post of control.

    A stern taskmaster was at the helm of the company.

verb (used with object)

  1. to steer; direct.

helm 2 American  
[helm] / hɛlm /

noun

  1. Also called great helm.  Also a medieval helmet, typically formed as a single cylindrical piece with a flat or raised top, completely enclosing the head.

  2. Archaic. a helmet.

verb (used with object)

  1. to furnish or cover with a helmet.

helm 1 British  
/ hɛlm /

noun

  1. nautical

    1. the wheel, tiller, or entire apparatus by which a vessel is steered

    2. the position of the helm: that is, on the side of the keel opposite from that of the rudder

  2. a position of leadership or control (esp in the phrase at the helm )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to direct or steer

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
helm 2 British  
/ hɛlm /

noun

  1. an archaic or poetic word for helmet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. archaic (tr) to supply with a helmet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
helm Idioms  

  1. see at the helm.

Other Word Forms

  • helmless adjective

Etymology

Origin of helm1

First recorded before 900; Middle English helm(e), Old English helma; cognate with Middle High German halme, helm “handle,” Old Norse hjalm “rudder”

Origin of helm2

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch, German helm; akin to Old English helan “to cover”; hull 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rose, a former Microsoft executive, took the helm in September last year and set out to turn around the company’s fortunes and prepare it for the rise of artificial intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the helm of its brand resurgence is Joon Silverstein, a chief marketing officer who only began describing herself as a marketer a few years ago.

From The Wall Street Journal

Taking the helm at a major news organization is the pinnacle of a journalist’s career.

From Los Angeles Times

That return has led many observers to feel Sesko is unlucky not to have made the starting XI for any of the six games Carrick has had at the helm.

From BBC

Hicks was deferential to the Democratic candidates who have long served in public office and have compelling personal tales and the experience to take the helm of the state.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.