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 by at ).
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. whenintr, often foll by at 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. esp in medieval Europe
   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. full tilt or at full tilt
   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

Derived Forms

• ˈtilter, noun

Other Words From

• tilta·ble adjective
• tilter noun

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

Outside the superhero genre, some series have offered the small comfort of imagining that only a catastrophe could tilt the country into dictatorship.

From New York Times

In a film with wonderful verticality — the camera tilts upward for exciting rooftop chases — Kim is extraordinarily athletic.

From New York Times

The lawyer explained that people’s understanding of what constituted evidence, guilt and crime were often tilted by the kind of media they watched.

From New York Times

These shenanigans further tilt the scales in Walmart’s favor and deprive local communities of needed tax revenue.

From Salon

“Like a hip tilt or a bent wrist, that is the way I move through the world,” Williams added.

From New York Times

Related Words

• angle
• inclination
• leaning
• slant