barrel roll

noun

1

: an airplane maneuver in which a complete revolution about the longitudinal axis is made

2

: a usually accidental occurrence in which a vehicle rolls completely over along its longitudinal axis

If the accident is violent enough to cause a couple of barrel rolls, the car will do so, despite the flaps.

—Connie Steele

barrel-roll verb, transitive + intransitive

He once flipped a car at 225 miles per hour and barrel-rolled another at 307 mph.

—Preston Lerner

Examples of barrel roll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Tesla soon launched itself from its position beneath the ramp's nearly horizontal ledge, executed a barrel roll in midair, and landed softly, all thanks to its SpaceX cold-gas thrusters. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 Oct. 2026

The Tesla Roadster performs a barrel roll over five of the company’s other EVs. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

It's got some useful gestures including squeeze and barrel roll. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 16 Sep. 2026

Roller coasters including the corkscrew barrel roll Turn of the Century were a big hit. — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for barrel roll

• amphibole
• asystole
• buttonhole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole
• multipole
• omeprazole
• oriole