NOUN (2)

1. steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by which a vessel is steered;

2. a position of leadership;
- Example: "the President is at the helm of the Ship of State"


VERB (1)

1. be at or take the helm of;
- Example: "helm the ship"

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

heaume \heaume\ n.
   1. a large medieval helmet supported on the shoulders; called
      also helm.
      [WordNet 1.5 +PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Helm \Helm\, v. t.
   To cover or furnish with a helm or helmet. [Perh. used only
   as a past part. or part. adj.]
   [1913 Webster]

         She that helmed was in starke stours.    --Chaucer.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Helm \Helm\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Helmed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Helming.]
   To steer; to guide; to direct. [R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         The business he hath helmed.             --Shak.
   [1913 Webster]

         A wild wave . . . overbears the bark,
         And him that helms it.                   --Tennyson.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Helm \Helm\, n. [AS. See Helmet.]
   1. A helmet. [Poetic]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A heavy cloud lying on the brow of a mountain. [Prov.
      Eng.] --Halliwell.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Helm \Helm\, n. [OE. helme, AS. helma rudder; akin to D. & G.
   helm, Icel. hj[=a]lm, and perh. to E. helve.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. (Naut.) The apparatus by which a ship is steered,
      comprising rudder, tiller, wheel, etc.; -- commonly used
      of the tiller or wheel alone.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The place or office of direction or administration. "The
      helm of the Commonwealth." --Melmoth.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. One at the place of direction or control; a steersman;
      hence, a guide; a director.
      [1913 Webster]

            The helms o' the State, who care for you like
            fathers.                              --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. [Cf. Helve.] A helve. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
      [1913 Webster]

   Helm amidships, when the tiller, rudder, and keel are in
      the same plane.

   Helm aport, when the tiller is borne over to the port side
      of the ship.

   Helm astarboard, when the tiller is borne to the starboard
      side.

   Helm alee, Helm aweather, when the tiller is borne over
      to the lee or to the weather side.

   Helm hard alee, Helm hard aport, Helm hard astarboard,
      etc., when the tiller is borne over to the extreme limit.


   Helm port, the round hole in a vessel's counter through
      which the rudderstock passes.

   Helm down, helm alee.

   Helm up, helm aweather.

   To ease the helm, to let the tiller come more amidships, so
      as to lessen the strain on the rudder.

   To feel the helm, to obey it.

   To right the helm, to put it amidships.

   To shift the helm, to bear the tiller over to the
      corresponding position on the opposite side of the vessel.
      --Ham. Nav. Encyc.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Helm \Helm\, n.
   See Haulm, straw.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

helm
    n 1: steering mechanism for a vessel; a mechanical device by
         which a vessel is steered
    2: a position of leadership; "the President is at the helm of
       the Ship of State"
    v 1: be at or take the helm of; "helm the ship"

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

56 Moby Thesaurus words for "helm":
   automatic pilot, bench, chair, chairmanship, chart a course, claws,
   clutches, command, cond, conn, control, coxswain, curule chair,
   dais, direct, directorship, domination, dominion, grasp, grip,
   gripe, guide, gyroscopic pilot, hand, handle, hands, have the conn,
   hold, iron hand, jurisdiction, leadership, lever pilot, manage,
   mastership, mastery, navigate, operate, pilot, power, presidency,
   reins, reins of government, rudder, rule, run, saddle, seat,
   seat of power, seat of state, shape a course, steer, talons,
   tiller, weather helm, wheel, woolsack