noun
rudder
RUH-duh
noun
1
A flat, hinged piece at the back of a boat or aircraft used to steer it.
"The captain turned the rudder hard to avoid the rocks."
"The pilot used the foot pedals to control the plane's rudder."
How to Use Rudder
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe steering surface at the back of a boat, plane, or similar vehicle.
Common pairings
steer with the rudder
rudder pedals
without a rudder
Word Forms
rudders plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “rudder”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The captain turned the _____ hard to avoid the rocks.
Etymology
From Old English rōþor, "oar, rudder," ultimately from a root meaning "to row" — a rudder was originally just a steering oar.