tilt

¹

[tilt]

verb (used with object)

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.

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 byat ).

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

4. (of a camera) to move on its vertical axis.

   The camera tilts downward for an overhead shot.

5. 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.

3. a slope.

4. a joust or any other contest.

5. a dispute; controversy.

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

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

tilt

²

[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.

tilt

¹

/ 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

3. to aim or thrust

   to tilt a lance

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

noun

1. a slope or angle

   at a tilt

2. the act of tilting

3. 1. a jousting contest

   2. a thrust with a lance or pole delivered during a tournament

4. an attempt to win a contest

5. See tilt hammer

6. at full speed or force

tilt

²

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• tilter noun
• tiltable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tilt¹

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”

Origin of tilt²

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of tilt¹

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

Origin of tilt²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

2. (at) full tilt. full tilt.

Example Sentences

Now we know what can tilt a pennant race between two teams whose performance has been roughly even with a month to go before the playoffs.

From Los Angeles Times

Annemarie Ward of Faces and Voices of Recovery UK agreed that harm reduction should be part of the mix but said the balance needed to tilt towards rehabilitation.

From BBC

Census, is receiving an unusual level of attention because of partisan efforts to tilt control of Congress in next year’s midterm election.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Roses” sees them going full tilt, including a raucous climactic fight that involves stunts and throwing fake oranges and knives at each other.

From Los Angeles Times

The California plan, which is headed to voters Nov. 4 under the name Proposition 50, would throw out the state’s nonpartisan maps in favor of boundaries that would tilt the scales for Democrats.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bend 
• dip 
• incline 
• lurch 
• shift 
• sway 
• tip