Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - pilot

~1 n 1 someone who operates the controls of an aircraft or spacecraft  (an airline pilot) 2 someone with a special knowledge of a particular area of water, who is employed to guide ships across it  (a harbour pilot) 3 a television programme that is made in order to test whether people like it and would watch it 4 pilot test/project/scheme etc a test that is done to see if an idea, product etc will be successful  (If the pilot survey goes well, we'll go into full production.)  (- see also automatic pilot) ~2 v 1 to guide an aircraft, spacecraft, or ship as its pilot 2 to help someone to go to a place  (pilot sb toward/out etc)  (He took my hand and piloted me through the corridors.) 3 to be responsible for making sure that a new law or plan is officially approved  (pilot sth through)  (I'm relying on your skill in piloting this through Parliament.) 4 to test a new idea, product etc on people to find out whether it will be successful  (They are piloting parts of the book in language schools.)