tilt

1
[ tilt ]
See synonyms for tilt on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object)
  1. to cause to lean, incline, slope, or slant.

  2. to rush at or charge, as in a joust.

  1. to hold poised for attack, as a lance.

  2. to move (a camera) up or down on its vertical axis for photographing or televising a moving character, object, or the like.

verb (used without object)
  1. to move into or assume a sloping position or direction.

  2. to strike, thrust, or charge with a lance or the like (usually followed by at).

  1. to engage in a joust, tournament, or similar contest.

  2. (of a camera) to move on its vertical axis: The camera tilts downward for an overhead shot.

  3. to incline in opinion, feeling, etc.; lean: She's tilting toward the other candidate this year.

noun
  1. an act or instance of tilting.

  2. the state of being tilted; a sloping position.

  1. a slope.

  2. a joust or any other contest.

  3. a dispute; controversy.

  4. a thrust of a weapon, as at a tilt or joust.

  5. (in aerial photography) the angle formed by the direction of aim of a camera and a perpendicular to the surface of the earth.

Idioms about tilt

  1. (at) full tilt. full tilt.

  2. tilt at windmills, to contend against imaginary opponents or injustices.: Also fight with windmills.

Origin of tilt

1
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English tilte(n), tilt(e), tult “to fall down, upset, tumble,” akin to Old English tealt “unsteady,” tealtian “to stumble”; compare dialectal Norwegian tylta “to tiptoe,” tylten “unsteady,” Swedish tulta “to totter”

Other words from tilt

  • tilt·a·ble, adjective
  • tilter, noun

Other definitions for tilt (2 of 2)

tilt2
[ tilt ]

noun
  1. a cover of coarse cloth, canvas, etc., as for a wagon.

  2. an awning.

verb (used with object)
  1. to furnish with a tilt.

Origin of tilt

2
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English teld(e), telt(e), tild(e) “dwelling (temporary or permanent), fort, tent,” Old English teld “tent, pavilion”; cognate with German Zelt “tent,” Old Norse tjald “tent, tapestry, curtain”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tilt in a sentence

  • The disarmed tilters thus declare themselves vanquished, and their armor and mounting belong by right to the vanquisher.

  • Knights are always mentioned as good or unskilful tilters, according to the judgment of the ladies.

  • Watch Master Tomtit as he performs some of his acrobatic feats, putting the tilters and tumblers in the human circus to the blush.

    Our Bird Comrades | Leander S. (Leander Sylvester) Keyser
  • Hoop skirts are close-reefed, and tilters are on their last leggs.

    Josh Billings on Ice | Henry Wheeler Shaw
  • Kris Kringle gave the lad some instructions about the method employed by the tilters, and Tad decided to enter the contest.

British Dictionary definitions for tilt (1 of 2)

tilt1

/ (tɪlt) /


verb
  1. to incline or cause to incline at an angle

  2. (usually intr) to attack or overthrow (a person or people) in a tilt or joust

  1. (when intr, often foll by at) to aim or thrust: to tilt a lance

  2. (tr) to work or forge with a tilt hammer

noun
  1. a slope or angle: at a tilt

  2. the act of tilting

  1. (esp in medieval Europe)

    • a jousting contest

    • a thrust with a lance or pole delivered during a tournament

  2. an attempt to win a contest

  3. full tilt or at full tilt at full speed or force

Origin of tilt

1
Old English tealtian; related to Dutch touteren to totter, Norwegian tylta to tiptoe, tylten unsteady

Derived forms of tilt

  • tilter, noun

British Dictionary definitions for tilt (2 of 2)

tilt2

/ (tɪlt) /


noun
  1. an awning or canopy, usually of canvas, for a boat, booth, etc

verb
  1. (tr) to cover or provide with a tilt

Origin of tilt

2
Old English teld; related to Old High German zelt tent, Old Norse tjald tent

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012