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drone

drone

noun DROHN Rare

Origin: English drone, adopted directly into French

Usage Note

Drone is a loanword used in French exactly as in English for an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Officially, French authorities also use aéronef télépiloté or aéronef sans pilote, though drone dominates in practice. The word is invariable in gender — always masculine — and forms a regular plural des drones. Its use has expanded metaphorically in journalism to describe surveillance or remote warfare.

Examples

"Le drone survole le champ à basse altitude."

Natural Translation

The drone flies over the field at low altitude.

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