noun
tiller
TIH-luh
Tiller (noun) means a handle attached to a boat's rudder, used to steer the boat. Example: “She gripped the tiller tightly as the wind picked up.”
noun
1
A handle attached to a boat's rudder, used to steer the boat.
"She gripped the tiller tightly as the wind picked up."
2
A person who tills, or cultivates, land.
"The tillers worked from dawn until dusk during harvest season."
3
A new shoot growing from the base of a plant.
"The wheat plant produced several tillers before flowering."
How to use tiller
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe steering handle on a small boat, or someone/something that cultivates land.
Common pairings
grip the tiller
push the tiller
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Word forms
- Plural
- tillers
- Third person singular
- tillers
- Past tense
- tillered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She gripped the _____ tightly as the wind picked up.
Etymology
From Middle English tilier, built from "till" (to cultivate) plus "-er."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tiller
See all rhymes for tiller →Frequently asked questions
What does “tiller” mean?
The word “tiller” means a handle attached to a boat's rudder, used to steer the boat. In plain terms, the steering handle on a small boat, or someone/something that cultivates land.
How do you pronounce “tiller”?
“Tiller” is pronounced TIH-luh (/ˈtɪlɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tiller” in a sentence?
Here is “tiller” used in a sentence: “She gripped the tiller tightly as the wind picked up.”
What part of speech is “tiller”?
“Tiller” is a noun.
Where does the word “tiller” come from?
The word “tiller” comes from Middle English. From Middle English tilier, built from "till" (to cultivate) plus "-er.".
How many meanings does “tiller” have?
“Tiller” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a handle attached to a boat's rudder, used to steer the boat.
