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• barrel roll
  barrel roll

  noun

  a maneuver in which an airplane executes a complete roll by revolving once around its longitudinal axis.
• barrel-roll
  barrel-roll

  verb (used without object)

  to perform a barrel roll.

barrel roll

¹ American  

noun

Aeronautics.

1. a maneuver in which an airplane executes a complete roll by revolving once around its longitudinal axis.

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barrel-roll ² American  

[bar-uhl-rohl] / ˈbær əlˌroʊl /

verb (used without object)

Aeronautics.

1. to perform a barrel roll.

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barrel roll British  

noun

1. a flight manoeuvre in which an aircraft rolls about its longitudinal axis while following a spiral course in line with the direction of flight

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verb

1. (intr) (of an aircraft) to perform a barrel roll

Usage

What does barrel roll mean? A barrel roll is an aviation maneuver in which an aircraft rolls over while also flying in a spiral or corkscrew route. The term can also be used as a verb (typically spelled barrel-roll) meaning to perform this maneuver. A barrel roll is typically only done by fighter jets and stunt planes. Some helicopters are capable of barrel roles, but this is rarer. A barrel roll should not be confused with an aileron roll, in which an aircraft performs a side-to-side roll by turning upside down and then right-side up again in a single rolling motion (without flying in a corkscrew formation). However, most laypeople simply call this a barrel roll. Example: The best part of the air show was seeing that huge plane do a barrel roll.

Etymology

Origin of barrel roll¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Origin of barrel-roll²

First recorded in 1925–30

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barrel roll barrel-roll

And, the defining feature, cold-gas rocket thrusters that jumped the car over a line of vehicles while doing a midair barrel roll.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

During the demo, which was livestreamed on Tesla's X account, the car launched from a steep steel ramp and performed a full barrel roll in mid-air before landing on its wheels.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

The various inversions will include a barrel roll, a zero-g roll and an overbanked stall turn, hinting at a heavily twisted track that will create drifts and swinging.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Suddenly, she darts away, soaring into a barrel roll.

From National Geographic ● Oct. 23, 2023

“Nope!” shouted Kyle, executing a pretty nifty barrel roll by swiveling his hips.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

We cracked the doors and were prepared to barrel-roll into the storage well for quick shelter.

From Washington Post ● Jul. 6, 2021

John Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon that the Chinese jet came extremely close to the P-8 and did a barrel-roll maneuver over the top of the jet.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 27, 2014

Gutierrez was coming out of the pits and turning through Turn One when Maldonado smashed into the side of the Swiss car, sending it into a barrel-roll.

From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2014

Newman, no stranger to harrowing accidents at restrictor-plate tracks, had just witnessed Kurt Busch's car barrel-roll on top of his at the end of a long and dreary day.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2013

As though in answer to the signal the huge mechanical bird went wing-over-wings and slid gracefully into a barrel-roll, then sailed off into the distance.

From The Trail of Conflict by Emilie Baker Loring

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