tilt

[ tilt ]

/ tɪlt /

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.

Idioms for tilt

(at) full tilt. full tilt.

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

Origin of tilt

1300–50; Middle English tylten to upset, tumble < Scandinavian; compare dialectal Norwegian tylta to tiptoe, tylten unsteady; akin to Old English tealt unsteady, tealtian to totter, amble, Middle Dutch touteren to sway

OTHER WORDS FROM tilt

tilt·a·ble, adjective tilt·er, noun

Words nearby tilt

tillicum, tillite, tillotson, tilly, tilsit, tilt, tilt at windmills, tilt hammer, tilt-top table, tilt-up, tilth

British Dictionary definitions for tilt at windmills (1 of 2)

tilt ¹

/ (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 thrust to tilt a lance

(tr) to work or forge with a tilt hammer

noun

a slope or angle at 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 at windmills (2 of 2)

tilt ²

/ (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

Idioms and Phrases with tilt at windmills

tilt at windmills

Engage in conflict with an imagined opponent, pursue a vain goal, as in Trying to reform campaign financing in this legislature is tilting at windmills. This metaphoric expression alludes to the hero of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote (1605), who rides with his lance at full tilt (poised to strike) against a row of windmills, which he mistakes for evil giants.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tilt

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for tilt

Origin of tilt

OTHER WORDS FROM tilt

Words nearby tilt

British Dictionary definitions for tilt at windmills (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of tilt

Word Origin for tilt

British Dictionary definitions for tilt at windmills (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tilt

Idioms and Phrases with tilt at windmills

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tilt

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Idioms for tilt

Origin of tilt

OTHER WORDS FROM tilt

Words nearby tilt

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for tilt at windmills (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of tilt

Word Origin for tilt

British Dictionary definitions for tilt at windmills (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tilt

Idioms and Phrases with tilt at windmills

British Dictionary definitions for tilt at windmills (1 of 2)