To rotate or spin automatically by itself, especially when a helicopter's rotor continues to spin as the aircraft descends without engine power.
From Greek autos (self) + Latin rotatus (turned, rotated). Coined in aviation technology to describe the critical emergency landing technique helicopters use.
If a helicopter loses engine power, its rotor blades don't just stop—the falling air pushes them to keep spinning, which creates lift to land safely; it's physics as a safety backup!
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