Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tilts, present participle tilting, past tense, past participle tilted
1. verb
If you tilt an object or if it tilts, it moves into a sloping position with one end or side higher than the other.
She tilted the mirror and began to comb her hair. [VERB noun]
Leonard tilted his chair back on two legs and stretched his long body. [VERB noun adverb/preposition]
The boat instantly tilted, filled and sank. [VERB]
[Also V adv/prep]
Synonyms: slant, tip, slope, list More Synonyms of tilt
2. verb
If you tilt part of your body, usually your head, you move it slightly upwards or to one side.
Mari tilted her head back so that she could look at him. [VERB noun with adverb]
The nurse tilted his head to the side and inspected the wound. [VERB noun preposition]
She tilted her face to kiss me quickly on the chin. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: angle, tip, lean, incline More Synonyms of tilt
Tilt is also a noun.
He opened the rear door for me with an apologetic tilt of his head. [+ of]
3. countable noun [usually singular]
The tilt of something is the fact that it tilts or slopes, or the angle at which it tilts or slopes.
...calculations based on our understanding of the tilt of the Earth's axis. [+ of]
...the abrupt tilt of the hill.
The 3-metre-square slabs are on a tilt.
Synonyms: slope, angle, inclination, list More Synonyms of tilt
4. verb
If a person or thing tiltstowards a particular opinion or if something tilts them towards it, they change slightly so that they become more in agreement with that opinion or position.
When the political climate tilted towards fundamentalism, he was threatened. [VERB preposition/adverb]
He continued to urge the Conservative Party to tilt rightwards. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The paper has done much to tilt American public opinion in favour of intervention. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
5. singular noun
If there is a tilt towards a particular opinion or position, that opinion or position is favoured or begins to be favoured.
The chairman criticised the plan for its tilt towards higher taxes rather than lowerspending. [+ towards]
6. countable noun
A tilt at something is an attempt to win or obtain it.
[journalism]
His first tilt at Parliament came in the same year but he failed to win the seat. [+ at]
He was determined to use his remaining year with Manchester United for one last tiltat the League title.
Synonyms: bid for, crack at More Synonyms of tilt
7.
See at full tilt/full tilt
More Synonyms of tilt
tilt in British English1
(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. (transitive)
to work or forge with a tilt hammer
noun
5.
a slope or angle
at a tilt
6.
the act of tilting
7. (esp in medieval Europe)
a.
a jousting contest
b.
a thrust with a lance or pole delivered during a tournament
8.
an attempt to win a contest
9. tilt hammer
10. full tilt
Derived forms
tilter (ˈtilter)
noun
Word origin
Old English tealtian; related to Dutch touteren to totter, Norwegian tylta to tiptoe, tylten unsteady
tilt in British English2
(tɪlt)
noun
1.
an awning or canopy, usually of canvas, for a boat, booth, etc
verb
2. (transitive)
to cover or provide with a tilt
Word origin
Old English teld; related to Old High German zelt tent, Old Norse tjald tent
tilt in American English1
(tɪlt)
verb transitive
1.
to cause to slope or slant; tip
2.
a.
to poise or thrust (a lance) in or as in a tilt
b.
to charge at (one's opponent) in a tilt
3.
to forge or hammer with a tilt hammer
4.
to direct (a discussion, policy, etc.) so as to favor a particular opinion or side
verb intransitive
5.
to slope; incline; slant; tip
6.
to poise or thrust one's lance, or to charge (at one's opponent) in a tilt
7.
to take part in a tilt or joust
8.
to dispute, argue, contend, attack, etc.
9.
to have, or come to have, a bias or inclination in favor of a particular opinion or side in a dispute
noun
10.
a medieval contest in which two armed horsemen thrust with lances in an attempt to unseat each other; joust
11.
any spirited contest, contention, dispute, etc. between persons
12.
a thrust or parry, as with a lance
13.
a.
the act of tilting, or sloping
b.
the condition or angle of being tilted; slope or slant
14. US, Informal
a leaning, bias, etc.
Idioms:
(at) full tilt
Derived forms
tilter (ˈtilter)
noun
Word origin
ME tilten, to be overthrown, totter, prob. < OE *tieltan < tealt, shaky, unstable; akin to Swed tulta, to totter < IE base *del-, to waddle, totter > Sans dulā, she who totters
tilt in American English2
(tɪlt)
noun
1.
a cloth covering or canopy of a boat, stall, cart, etc.
verb transitive
2.
to furnish or cover with a tilt
Word origin
ME telte < OE teld, tent, akin to Ger zelt
More idioms containing
tilt
tilt at windmills
Examples of 'tilt' in a sentence
tilt
She tilts her head at a mournful angle.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Your brain is working at full tilt thanks to the sun in your opposite house.
The Sun (2015)
But back she came and then yesterday had one more tilt at crossing the line first.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The balance of the air battle seemed to be tilting in favour of the enemy.
Max Hastings Nemesis: The Battle for Japan, 194445 (2007)
The composition of growth is tilting back to advanced from emerging economies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The second row of seats tilt and slide to provide easy access to the third row.
The Sun (2008)
They know when he is training at full tilt and when he is overdoing it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
She can strike a pose and tilt her chin.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He has told friends that he would like another tilt at the top.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She closed her eyes tight and tilted her face towards the sky.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Remove from the heat and slightly tilt the pan so that the toffee runs to one side.
The Sun (2012)
We were tilting from side to side.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The world has tilted on its axis this week.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The boat struck the bank full tilt.
Kenneth Grahame The Wind in the Willows (1908)
Where one partner is heavier than the other the whole sleeping surface may be tilted to one side.
Lamplugh, Diana & Sterwin, Diana & Nottidge, Pamela Survive the Nine to Five - a woman's guide to working well (1989)
The fuselage was tilted at an angle with engine oil leaking on to the three men and the still smoking wreckage.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Momentum changes games and it had tilted in our favour with a player sent off and us pulling a goal back.
The Sun (2013)
This is just tilting at windmills.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He tilted his head towards me.
Duncan Hamilton Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough (2007)
Let's take a tilt at it anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I aimed for the ramp in first gear and tried to gauge the angle of tilt.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Due to the boat 's tilt, a good shove would be necessary for it to clear the deck below.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
At other stores she could spot no distortion, but many of the mirrors were tilted away from her, also giving a more appealing look.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
tilt
British English: tilt VERB
If you tilt an object or if it tilts, it moves into a sloping position with one end or side higher than the other.
She tilted the mirror and began to comb her hair.
American English: tilt
Brazilian Portuguese: inclinar
Chinese: 使倾斜
European Spanish: inclinar
French: incliner
German: neigen
Italian: inclinare
Japanese: 傾ける/傾く
Korean: 기울이다
European Portuguese: inclinar
Latin American Spanish: inclinar
All related terms of 'tilt'
full tilt
at full speed or force
tilt-top
designating a table , stand , etc. designed so that the top, hinged to a pedestal , can be tipped to a vertical position
tilt board
a rectangular board mounted on a fulcrum , for use by acrobats and gymnasts to gain momentum in feats of tumbling
tilt hammer
a drop hammer consisting of a heavy head moving at the end of a pivoted arm ; used in forging
tilt-rotor
an aircraft with rotors that can be switched from spinning horizontally, usually during takeoffs and landings , to spinning vertically, as during regular flight
(at) full tilt
at full speed; with the greatest force
tilt-top table
a table having a hinged top that can be tilted to a vertical position
tilt at windmills
to waste your time on problems or issues which in other people's opinion are not really problems at all
at full tilt/full tilt
To move full tilt or at full tilt means to move with as much speed , energy , or force as possible .
pan and tilt head
a mounting device on which a camera may be rotated in a horizontal plane ( pan ) or in a vertical plane ( tilt )
tilting board
a seesaw
Chinese translation of 'tilt'
tilt
(tɪlt)
vt
[object]使翘(翹)起 (shǐ qiàoqǐ)
[part of body]仰起 (yǎngqǐ)
vi
[object]倾(傾)斜 (qīngxié)
[part of body]抬起 (táiqǐ)
n(c)
(= slope) 倾(傾)斜 (qīngxié)
(at) full tilt全速地 (quánsù de)
1 (verb)
Definition
to move into a sloping position with one end or side higher than the other
The boat instantly tilted, filled and sank.
Synonyms
slant
The morning sun slanted through the glass roof.
tip
slope
The garden sloped quite steeply.
list
The ship listed again, and she was thrown back across the bunk.
lean
He leaned forward to take the glass from her.
heel
incline
cant
The helicopter canted inward towards the landing area.
2 (verb)
Definition
to move (part of the body) slightly upwards or to the side
She tilted her head back to look at him.
Synonyms
angle
You can angle the slats for more shade.
tip
She tipped her head back to breathe.
lean
Do you lean politically towards the right or left?
incline
3 (verb)
Definition
to compete against someone in a jousting contest
Synonyms
joust
Knights joust on the field.
attack
fight
He was formally disciplined for fighting at work.
clash
encounter
They were about to cross the border and encounter Iraqi troops.
contend
The two main groups contended for power.
spar
duel
We duelled for two years.
cross swords
The last time they crossed swords was at the Olympics.
break a lance
4 (verb)
Synonyms
lock horns
1 (noun)
Definition
the act of tilting
an apologetic tilt of the head
Synonyms
inclination
a polite inclination of the head
nod
2 (noun)
Definition
a slope or angle
the tilt of the earth's axis
Synonyms
slope
a mountain slope
angle
The boat was leaning at a 30-degree angle.
inclination
list
The ship's list was so strong that she stumbled.
pitch
the 45-degree pitch of the roof
incline
I came to a halt at the edge of a steep incline.
slant
The house is on a slant.
cant
camber
gradient
a hill with a gradient of 1 in 3
3 (noun)
Definition
an attempt to win a contest
Rovers are ready for a tilt at a second successive promotion.
Synonyms
bid for
crack at
4 (noun)
Definition
a jousting contest, esp. in medieval Europe
The crowd cheered and the tilt began.
Synonyms
joust
an annual reconstruction of medieval jousts and banquets
fight
He got a bloody nose in a fight.
tournament
a medieval tournament with displays of archery, armour and combat
lists
clash
set-to (informal)
encounter
They were arrested after a chance encounter with security forces near the border.
combat
duel
sporadic artillery duels
tourney
idiom
See (at) full tilt
Additional synonyms
in the sense of cant
Definition
to tilt or overturn
The helicopter canted inward towards the landing area.
Synonyms
tilt,
angle,
slope,
incline,
slant,
bevel,
rise
in the sense of contend
Definition
to compete or fight
The two main groups contended for power.
Synonyms
compete,
fight,
struggle,
clash,
contest,
strive,
emulate,
vie,
grapple,
jostle,
skirmish,
dispute
in the sense of cross swords
The last time they crossed swords was at the Olympics.
Synonyms
fight,
argue,
dispute,
disagree,
spar,
wrangle,
be at loggerheads,
come to blows,
have a dispute,
engage in conflict
Synonyms of 'tilt'
tilt
Explore 'tilt' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of duel
Definition
to fight in a duel
We duelled for two years.
Synonyms
fight,
struggle,
clash,
compete,
contest,
contend,
vie with,
lock horns
in the sense of duel
sporadic artillery duels
Synonyms
contest,
fight,
competition,
clash,
encounter,
engagement,
rivalry,
head-to-head
in the sense of encounter
Definition
to meet (an opponent or enemy) in a competition or battle
They were about to cross the border and encounter Iraqi troops.
Synonyms
battle with,
attack,
fight,
oppose,
engage with,
confront,
combat,
clash with,
contend with,
strive against,
struggle with,
grapple with,
face off (slang),
do battle with,
cross swords with,
come into conflict with,
meet head on
in the sense of encounter
Definition
a game or battle
They were arrested after a chance encounter with security forces near the border.
Synonyms
battle,
fight,
action,
conflict,
clash,
dispute,
contest,
set to (informal),
run-in (informal),
combat,
confrontation,
engagement,
collision,
skirmish,
head-to-head,
face-off (slang)
in the sense of fight
Definition
to struggle against (an enemy) in battle or physical combat
He was formally disciplined for fighting at work.
Synonyms
brawl,
clash,
scrap (informal),
exchange blows,
struggle,
row,
tilt,
wrestle,
feud,
grapple,
tussle,
joust,
come to blows,
lock horns,
fight like Kilkenny cats
in the sense of fight
Definition
a boxing match
He got a bloody nose in a fight.
Synonyms
brawl,
set-to (informal),
riot,
scrap (informal),
confrontation,
rumble (US, New Zealand, slang),
fray,
duel,
skirmish,
head-to-head,
tussle,
scuffle,
free-for-all (informal),
fracas,
altercation,
dogfight,
joust,
dissension,
affray,
shindig (informal),
scrimmage,
sparring match,
exchange of blows,
shindy (informal),
melee or mêlée,
biffo (Australian, slang),
boilover (Australian)
in the sense of gradient
Definition
a measure of the steepness of such a slope
a hill with a gradient of 1 in 3
Synonyms
slope,
hill,
rise,
grade,
incline,
camber,
bank,
declivity,
acclivity
in the sense of incline
Definition
to veer from a vertical or horizontal plane
Synonyms
slope,
tend,
tip,
bend,
lean,
heel,
tilt,
slant,
veer,
diverge,
deviate,
cant,
bevel
in the sense of incline
Definition
an inclined surface or slope
I came to a halt at the edge of a steep incline.
Synonyms
slope,
rise,
dip,
grade,
descent,
ramp,
ascent,
gradient,
declivity,
acclivity
in the sense of lean
Definition
to bend or make (something) bend from an upright position
He leaned forward to take the glass from her.
Synonyms
bend,
tip,
slope,
incline,
tilt,
heel,
slant
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lean
Definition
to have or express a tendency or preference
Do you lean politically towards the right or left?
Synonyms
tend,
prefer,
favour,
incline,
be prone to,
gravitate,
be disposed to,
have a propensity to
in the sense of list
Definition
(esp. of ships) to lean to one side
The ship listed again, and she was thrown back across the bunk.
Synonyms
lean,
tip,
heel,
incline,
tilt,
cant,
heel over,
careen
in the sense of list
Definition
a leaning to one side
The ship's list was so strong that she stumbled.
Synonyms
tilt,
leaning,
slant,
cant
in the sense of pitch
Definition
the degree or angle of slope
the 45-degree pitch of the roof
Synonyms
slope,
angle,
dip,
incline,
tilt,
gradient,
cant,
steepness
in the sense of tip
Definition
to tilt
She tipped her head back to breathe.
Synonyms
tilt,
lean,
angle,
bend,
cock,
incline
in the sense of tournament
Definition
a contest in which mounted knights fought for a prize
a medieval tournament with displays of archery, armour and combat