Tiller Meaning
/ˈtɪlə/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA person who tills; a farmer.
nounA machine that mechanically tills the soil.
Sentence Examples
Many early cars used a tiller instead of a steering wheel.
Gabriel was ordered to take the tiller.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer employed a ____ to prepare the land for planting vegetables.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sailor held onto the ____ to guide the small boat through the narrow channel of the deep river today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English tilier; equivalent to till + -er.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In France, Europe's most fertile and cultivated land, the tillers of it suffered more and more hunger."
— 2000, Alasdair Gray, The Book of Prefaces, Bloomsbury, published 2002, page 63:
"first you must provide you of a Ladder to ascend the top of your Pit : this they usually make of a curved Tiller fit to apply to the convex shape of the heap"
— 1664, J[ohn] E[velyn], Sylva, or A Discourse of Forest-trees and the Propagation of Timber in His Majesties Dominions. […], London: […] Jo[hn] Martyn, and Ja[mes] Allestry, printers to the Royal Society, […], →OCLC:
"You can shoot in a tiller."
— c. 1608–1610, Francis Beaumont, John Fletcher, “Philaster: Or, Love Lies a Bleeding”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1679, →OCLC, Act II, scene ii:
"But search her cabinet, and thou shalt find
Each tiller there with love-epistles lin'd"
— 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Sixth Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The farmer employed a ____ to prepare the land for planting vegetables.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The sailor held onto the ____ to guide the small boat through the narrow channel of the deep river today.