1. an aircraft that can take off and land vertically like a helicopter and fly forward like an airplane
Usage: also called a convertible aircraft or tiltrotor aircraft; technical/aviation term

Examples

• The convertiplane combines the vertical takeoff capability of a helicopter with the speed of a fixed-wing aircraft.
• Military forces have invested in convertiplane technology for rapid deployment missions.
• A convertiplane can land on a small platform without requiring a long runway.
• The V-22 Osprey is a well-known example of a convertiplane used by the U.S. Marine Corps.
• Engineers are developing new convertiplane designs for civilian transport applications.