yaw

Rudder-controlled rotation

Yaw is rotation around a vertical axis—the side-to-side swinging of a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft.

A plane yaws when its nose moves left or right while its wings stay level, distinct from pitch (nose up/down) and roll (wings tilting).

The term extends to any vehicle or projectile deviating from its intended course: The rocket began to yaw during ascent.

aviation

rudder

Pivoting stern blade

aileronWing-mounted roll control
autopilotAutomated vehicle guidance system
gyroscopeSpinning disc measuring orientation

stabilizer · tailfin · pitch · roll · heading · crosswind · turbulence · airflow · buffeting · sideslip

motion

swing

Suspended recreational seat

oscillateMove rhythmically between extremes
swayRock back and forth
wobbleUnsteady side-to-side motion

fishtail · waggle · pivot · rotate · deviation · drift · veer · swerve · weave · slew

nautical

helm

Vessel's steering mechanism

rudderPivoting stern blade
tillerBoat steering lever
starboardVessel's right-hand side

port · bow · stern · keel · heading · bearing · course · windward · leeward · sailing

vehicle

fishtail

Rear-end lateral skid

skidUncontrolled lateral slide
oversteerExcessive rear rotation
understeerFront-wheel traction loss

jackknife · traction · steering · swerve · drift · correction · alignment · suspension · countersteering · spinout

Categories

flight stabilitydihedral, anhedral, roll, pitch, sideslip
nautical termsahoy, afloat, aye aye, aye-aye, becalmed
spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
rotationsrotate, roll, spin, turn, twist
spinningspin, rotate, revolve, whirl, twirl
Aeronauticslift, thrust, drag, wing, airfoil

Opposites

rotational movement around vertical axis

Make linear or orderly

steady · stabilize · correct · stay

directional stability

Remain in position

hold steady · trim

TYPE OF ROTATIONAL AXIS (in aerospace/nautical terminology)

Frequency of sound

roll · heave · tilt · surge · sway

Phrases

technicolor yawnHumorous term for vomiting

Family

yawn, yawp, yawner, yaws, yawing, yawps, yawed, yawping

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G