a person who handles or is qualified to handle the controls of an aircraft or spacecraft
a person who is qualified and usu licensed to conduct a ship into and out of a port or in specified waters
a trial run of a project or a trial programme on radio or television, e.g. to test public opinion or reaction
a piece that guides a tool or machine part
(used before a noun) serving as a guide, activator, or trial
pilot lamps
a pilot scheme
archaic a guide or leader
pilotless adj
[early French pilote from medieval Latin pilota, alteration of pedota, ultimately from Greek pēdon oar]