atilt

/ə'tilt/

Thân thiện

The old wooden fence post stands atilt in the field.

Definition

Adjective 1. Tilted or leaning: Being in a slanted or inclined position; not perfectly vertical or horizontal.

Usage

The adjective "atilt" describes something that is not straight or level. It is a somewhat literary or descriptive term, often used to evoke a specific visual image of a slight or pronounced slant.

Examples

• The old painting hung atilt on the wall, giving the room a slightly chaotic feel.
• After the earthquake, the fence posts stood atilt in the muddy ground.
• She wore her hat charmingly atilt.

Advanced Usage

• "Atilt" is often used in a predicative position (after a linking verb like , , ) rather than attributively (before a noun). For example, "The tower was atilt" is more common than "the atilt tower."
• It can describe both physical objects and, metaphorically, abstract concepts like perspectives or moods, though this is less common.
  • His worldview seemed permanently atilt after his travels.

Variants and Related Words

• Tilt (verb/noun): The action or state of leaning or slanting.
  • He had to tilt the lamp to get better light.
• Tilted (adjective): A more common synonym for "atilt."
  • The tilted picture frame needed straightening.

Synonyms

• Tilted
• Slanted
• Inclined
• Leaning
• Sloped
• Canted

Antonyms

• Straight
• Upright
• Vertical
• Level
• Horizontal
• Plumb

Related Phrases and Idioms

• At an angle: A common phrase with a similar meaning to "atilt."
  • She held the mirror at an angle to see the back of her hair.
• (To be) on a slant: Another way to describe a tilted position.
  • The sunlight came in on a slant through the shutters.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal
   • the leaning tower of Pisa
   • the headstones were tilted

Từ đồng nghĩa

• canted
• leaning
• tilted
• tipped