rudder

noun

rud·​der ˈrə-dər 

1

: an underwater blade that is positioned at the stern of a boat or ship and controlled by its helm and that when turned causes the vessel's head to turn in the same direction

2

: a movable auxiliary airfoil on an airplane usually attached at the rear end that serves to control direction of flight in the horizontal plane see airplane illustration

3

: a guiding force or strategy

rudderless

ˈrə-dər-ləs 

adjective

Examples of rudder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pedals in the cockpit control the rudder, which is attached to the vertical part of the tail and can be used to point the nose of the plane left or right. —David Koenig, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024

The Mechanicals Heavy duty engines and generators paired with two independent rudders for redundancy and maneuverability make the NL45 easy to manage. —Kathleen Turner, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

The Max has been plagued by other issues, including manufacturing flaws, concern about overheating that led FAA to tell pilots to limit use of an anti-ice system, and a possible loose bolt in the rudder system. —Claire Rush, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2024

On their tenth day at sea, the four Nigerian stowaways crossing the Atlantic in a tiny space above the rudder of a cargo ship ran out of food and drink. —Reuters, NBC News, 2 Aug. 2023

The shuttle’s nose was raised 200 feet into the night sky so that the rudder could clear 80 feet of space. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2024

In December, the company asked airlines to inspect its 737 Max jets for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system. —Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024

In December, the company asked owners of recently delivered 737 MAX planes to inspect the rudder control system for loose bolts. —Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

In addition, the yacht is equipped with twin rudders and a telescopic lifting keel with a 27-ton bulb that can reduce the draught from 20 feet to 13. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English rother, from Old English rōther paddle; akin to Old English rōwan to row

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rudder

noun

rud·​der ˈrəd-ər 

: a flat movable piece (as of wood or metal) attached to the rear of a ship or aircraft for steering