[tilt] 
| 1. | to cause to lean, incline, slope, or slant. |
| 2. | to rush at or charge, as in a joust. |
| 3. | to hold poised for attack, as a lance. |
| 4. | to move (a camera) up or down on its vertical axis for photographing or televising a moving character, object, or the like. |
| 5. | to move into or assume a sloping position or direction. |
| 6. | to strike, thrust, or charge with a lance or the like (usually fol. by at). |
| 7. | to engage in a joust, tournament, or similar contest. |
| 8. | (of a camera) to move on its vertical axis: The camera tilts downward for an overhead shot. |
| 9. | to incline in opinion, feeling, etc.; lean: She's tilting toward the other candidate this year. |
| 10. | an act or instance of tilting. |
| 11. | the state of being tilted; a sloping position. |
| 12. | a slope. |
| 13. | a joust or any other contest. |
| 14. | a dispute; controversy. |
| 15. | a thrust of a weapon, as at a tilt or joust. |
| 16. | (in aerial photography) the angle formed by the direction of aim of a camera and a perpendicular to the surface of the earth. |
| 17. | (at) full tilt. full tilt. |
| 18. | tilt at windmills, to contend against imaginary opponents or injustices. Also, fight with windmills. |
| wind·mill (wĭnd'mĭl') n.
To move or cause to move like the wheel of a windmill; rotate sweepingly. |
tilt at windmills
Engage in conflict with an imagined opponent, pursue a vain goal, as in Trying to reform campaign financing in this legislature is tilting at windmills. This metaphoric expression alludes to the hero of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605), who rides with his lance at full tilt (poised to strike) against a row of windmills, which he mistakes for evil giants.