yaw

¹ American  

[yaw] / yɔ /

verb (used without object)

yaws, present (3rd person singular) yawed, past participle, past yawing present participle

1. to deviate temporarily from a straight course, as a ship.

2. (of an aircraft) to have a motion about its vertical axis.

3. (of a rocket or guided missile) to deviate from a stable flight attitude by oscillation of the longitudinal axis in the horizontal plane.

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verb (used with object)

yaws, present (3rd person singular) yawed, past participle, past yawing present participle

1. to cause to yaw.

noun

1. a movement of deviation from a direct course, as of a ship.

2. a motion of an aircraft about its vertical axis.

3. an angle, to the right or left, determined by the direction of motion of an aircraft or spacecraft and its vertical and longitudinal plane of symmetry.

4. (of a rocket or guided missile)

   1. the act of yawing.

   2. the angular displacement of the longitudinal axis due to yawing.

yaw ² American  

[yaw] / yɔ /

noun

Pathology.

1. one of the lesions of yaws.

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yaw British  

/ jɔː /

verb

1. (intr) (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to turn about its vertical axis Compare pitch 1 roll

2. (intr) (of a ship, etc) to deviate temporarily from a straight course

3. (tr) to cause (an aircraft, ship, etc) to yaw

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noun

1. the angular movement of an aircraft, missile, etc, about its vertical axis

2. the deviation of a vessel from a straight course

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has yawed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have yawed
  perfect
• is yawing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am yawing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been yawing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been yawing
  perfect progressive
• are yawing
  progressive
• yawing
  participle
• yaws
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had yawed
  perfect
• yawed
  participle
• were yawing
  progressive plural
• had been yawing
  perfect progressive
• was yawing
  progressive singular
• yawed
  simple

Future

• will yaw
  simple
• will have yawed
  perfect
• will have been yawing
  perfect progressive
• will be yawing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of yaw¹

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

Origin of yaw²

First recorded in 1735–45; back formation from yaws

Explanation

A yaw is a swerve off course. On a sailboat, an unexpected yaw can make you lurch to one side — and it might also make you seasick. Both as a noun and a verb, yaw basically means "swerve or twist." It's most common for this word to be used in discussions of a vehicle's movement, especially ships, airplanes, and spacecraft. A pilot might describe a jet that tends to yaw to the right, while a boat captain might warn her crew that an approaching storm will cause the ship to pitch and yaw. Etymologists believe that yaw and yacht share a root.

Example Sentences

Historian and cultural commentator Yaw Anokye Frimpong called the fugu "an unofficial national dress" with practical and historical roots.

From Barron's • Feb. 13, 2026

Yaw Nyame, one of the numerous Ghanaians who welcomed IShowSpeed's naturalisation, says he hopes the content creator uses his passport to set up a base in the country.

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

Taylor Yaw, director of animal health at the zoo, said the procedure is not "common".

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2024

It was home to fewer than 2,000 souls when Yaw was born there, in 1869.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2024

"Yaw; I ish doing petter as nefer I couldn't does," replied Otto, who in his excitement dropped back into his crooked words and sentences.

From Footprints in the Forest by Ellis, Edward Sylvester