verb
tilt
tihlt
verb
1
To lean or slant something, or to be at an angle.
"She tilted the picture frame until it hung straight."
"The old barn tilts noticeably to one side."
2
(gaming slang) To become so frustrated after a run of losses that one's play gets noticeably worse.
"He kept losing hands and started to tilt badly."
noun
1
A slant or lean; the angle at which something is inclined.
"The Earth's axial tilt causes the seasons."
2
A jousting match, or an attempt at some goal or contest.
"The knights met in a tilt before the crowd."
"His tilt at the mayoral election fell short."
How to Use Tilt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo lean at an angle — or, in gaming, to lose your composure after a bad run.
Common pairings
tilt at an angle
tilt the balance
going on tilt
Word Forms
tilted past tense, tilted past tense, tilts plural, tilts plural, tilts singular, tilts singular
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Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "unsteady" or "to shake"; the jousting sense arose around 1510 from the barrier separating combatants, and the gaming-frustration sense is said to come from pinball, where "tilting" the machine could end your turn.