tilt

[ tilt ]

/ tɪlt /

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See synonyms for: tilt / tilted / tilting on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to cause to lean, incline, slope, or slant.

to rush at or charge, as in a joust.

to hold poised for attack, as a lance.

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)

to move into or assume a sloping position or direction.

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

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

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

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

noun

an act or instance of tilting.

the state of being tilted; a sloping position.

a slope.

a joust or any other contest.

a dispute; controversy.

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

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

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about tilt

(at) full tilt. full tilt.

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

Origin of tilt

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, adjectivetilter, noun

Other definitions for tilt (2 of 2)

tilt²

[ tilt ]

/ tɪlt /

noun

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

an awning.

verb (used with object)

to furnish with a tilt.

Origin of tilt

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. 2023

How to use tilt in a sentence

Easily adjust the height of the stand and tilt of the screen for even more customizable play.
Best gaming monitor: Five things to consider|Carsen Joenk|November 26, 2020|Popular-Science
This turn of events means that a court that already has a sharp pro-business tilt will tip even further in that direction.
Why a very conservative Supreme Court will be bad for business|matthewheimer|October 13, 2020|Fortune
If Warnock makes it, he’ll have to convince Democratic-leaning voters to come out again in January, when there won’t be a presidential race to help him overcome the conservative tilt of this state.
The Senate seats most likely to flip parties in November|Amber Phillips|October 9, 2020|Washington Post
Orange Grove Avenue was on enough of a tilt to be like a water slide running south, then the old sunken part of the Pasadena Freeway just west of it ran in the other direction, it was crazy.
Los Angeles Is Gone - Issue 90: Something Green|Kim Stanley Robinson|October 7, 2020|Nautilus

In Mecklenburg and Wake counties, the suburbs that ring Charlotte and Raleigh, respectively, there are 143,000 more registered voters than there were four years ago, with a strong tilt toward younger and minority groups that favor Democrats.
A covid-19 diagnosis, texts suggesting infidelity roil pivotal N.C. Senate race|Pam Kelley, Rachael Bade, Paul Kane|October 6, 2020|Washington Post

British Dictionary definitions for tilt (1 of 2)

tilt¹

/ (tɪlt) /

verb

to incline or cause to incline at an angle

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

(when intr, often foll by at) to aim or thrustto tilt a lance

(tr) to work or forge with a tilt hammer

noun

a slope or angleat a tilt

the act of tilting

(esp in medieval Europe)

a jousting contest
a thrust with a lance or pole delivered during a tournament

an attempt to win a contest

See tilt hammer

full tilt or at full tilt at full speed or force

Derived forms of tilt

tilter, noun

Word Origin for tilt

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

British Dictionary definitions for tilt (2 of 2)

tilt²

/ (tɪlt) /

noun

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

verb

(tr) to cover or provide with a tilt

Word Origin for tilt

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

tilt

Idioms about tilt

Origin of tilt

OTHER WORDS FROM tilt

Other definitions for tilt (2 of 2)

Origin of tilt

Words related to tilt

How to use tilt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tilt (1 of 2)

Derived forms of tilt

Word Origin for tilt

British Dictionary definitions for tilt (2 of 2)

Word Origin for tilt