tiller

1 of 4

noun (1)

till·​er ˈti-lər 

: one that tills : cultivator

tiller

2 of 4

noun (2)

til·​ler ˈti-lər 

: a lever used to turn the rudder of a boat from side to side

broadly : a device or system that plays a part in steering something

tiller

3 of 4

noun (3)

til·​ler ˈti-lər 

: stalk, sprout

especially : one from the base of a plant or from the axils of its lower leaves

tiller

4 of 4

verb

til·​ler ˈti-lər 

tillered; tillering ˈti-lə-riŋ 

ˈtil-riŋ

intransitive verb

of a plant

: to put forth tillers

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• agriculturist
• agriculturalist
• agronomist
• cultivator
• farmer
• grower
• planter

Examples of tiller in a Sentence

Noun (1)

in his paintings farmers are invariably depicted as brawny yet noble tillers of the land

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That rod moves a connected tiller in the rear, which in turn swivels the motor/prop pod to the left or right. —Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2024

Buyers will be able to select from several options to better tailor the motor to their boat, including tiller steer and center console control systems, short and long shaft configurations, and various propellers. —New Atlas, 23 July 2024

Verb

Continue tillering until the bow can be drawn far enough to shoot an arrow half as long as the bow (with most woods, this will be a 35- to 55-pound pull). —Keith McCafferty, Field & Stream, 29 June 2023

Large crabgrass can spread rapidly by tillering or from sprouts at the base of the plant, which rapidly increases the width of the crabgrass clump. —Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 30 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English teler, tiller stock of a crossbow, tiller, from Anglo-French teiler stock of a crossbow

Noun (3)

Middle English *tiller, from Old English telgor, telgra twig, shoot; akin to Old High German zelga twig, Old Irish dlongaid he splits

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1625, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tiller

1 of 2 noun

till·​er

ˈtil-ər

: a person who tills

also : cultivator

tiller

2 of 2 noun

til·​ler

ˈtil-ər

: a lever used to turn the rudder of a boat from side to side