tilt-rotor

noun

tilt-ro·​tor ˈtilt-ˌrō-tər How to pronounce tilt-rotor (audio)
: an aircraft that has rotors at the end of each wing which can be oriented vertically for vertical takeoffs and landings, horizontally for forward flight, or to any position in between

Examples of tilt-rotor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Photos released by the Navy show that the Iwo Jima—the flagship of the amphibious ready group—is equipped with AV-8B attack aircraft, MV-22B tilt-rotor transport aircraft, and AH-1Z attack helicopters, as well as landing craft air cushions for amphibious operations. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Sep. 2025 With a full-length flight deck capable of supporting helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft, the ship functions much like a small aircraft carrier. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2025 Airport officials say the tilt-rotor aircraft touched down safely after reporting a mechanical issue mid-flight. Anthony Trotter, ABC News, 24 July 2025 Operation Spider’s Web saw 117 attack drones, mostly small, relatively cheap tilt-rotor forward-person view drones, suddenly emerge from hidden crates inside trucks strategically parked near Russian airbases thousands of miles from Ukraine. Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025 This is not the first time that an eVTOL has made such a transition flight with a pilot aboard, but the others by the likes of Beta Technologies and Wick Aero used aircraft with separate horizontal and vertical flight systems, while the S4 used a tilt-rotor system for both maneuvers. David Szondy, New Atlas, 29 Apr. 2025 Abe has reaffirmed Noda’s plan to buy 42 F-35 fighters and has announced his intention to purchase 17 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and 52 amphibious assault vehicles. Michael Auslin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tilt-rotor was in 1961

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Cite this Entry

“Tilt-rotor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tilt-rotor. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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