• enPR: hĕlm, IPA: /hɛlm/

helm (plural helms)

1. (nautical) The steering apparatus of a ship, especially the tiller or wheel.

   Synonyms: tiller, wheel

2. (maritime) The member of the crew in charge of steering the boat.

   Synonyms: helmsman

3. (figurative) A position of leadership or control.

   the helm of the Commonwealth

4. One at the place of direction or control; a guide; a director.
   • c. 1608–1609, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act I, scene i]:

     the helms o' the State, who care for you like fathers

5. (obsolete, UK, dialect) A helve.

• French: barre
• German: Steuer, Ruder, Steuerruder, Steuerung
• Italian: timone
• Portuguese: timão
• Russian: штурва́л
• Spanish: timón

• French: barreur, timonier
• German: Steuermann, Steuerfrau
• Italian: timoniere
• Russian: рулево́й
• Spanish: timonel

• Italian: al comando / at helm, alla guida, al timone, timoniere, condottiero, duce
• Russian: корми́ло

helm (helms, present participle helming; past and past participle helmed)

1. To be a helmsman or a member of the helm; to be in charge of steering the boat.
   • ?, Alfred Tennyson, Lancelot and Elaine

     A wild wave […] overbears the bark, / And him that helms it.

2. (by extension) To lead (a project, etc.).
   • 2014, Malcolm Jack, "John Grant with the Royal Northern Sinfonia review – positively spine-tingling ↗", The Guardian, 1 December 2014:

     “I wanted to change the world, but I could not even change my underwear,” sings John Grant at the piano, in a luxuriant baritone croon as thick and healthy as his beard. It’s hard to reconcile the guy who once struggled to so much as put on clean pants back in the bad old days – well-storied, not least through his own songs – with the one warmly and gracefully helming this complex, prestigious production – the penultimate date on a tour of packed concert halls, backed by an orchestra.

   • c. 1603–1604, William Shakespeare, “Measvre for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene ii]:

     the business he hath helmed

helm (plural helms)

1. (rare, poetic) A helmet.

   • The kynge Ban be-gan to laugh vndir his helme.

2. (heraldry) A helmet.
3. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain.

helm (plural helms)

1. Alternative form of haulm (a straw)

1. The only named wind in the British Isles. It blows westward from the Pennine fells over Cumbria and is often accompanied by a line of clouds on top of the hills called the Helm Bar.

• Helm Wind