Phrase guide

barrel roll

noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An aerobatic flying maneuver in which the pilot causes the airplane to complete one loop in the same time that the airplane completes one roll, creating the appearance that the airplane is riding on the inside of a cylinder.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A movement (usually during a car crash) where a car flips on its roof, then falls back on its wheels after doing at least one full 360° horizontal rotation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To perform a barrel roll.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

a roll in which the plane follows a spiral course

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: roll

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: gir de barril — aerobatic maneuver
  • Chinese Mandarin: 桶滾 /桶滚 (tǒnggǔn) — aerobatic maneuver
  • French: tonneau — aerobatic maneuver
  • German: Fassrolle — aerobatic maneuver
  • Irish: rolladh bairille — aerobatic maneuver
  • Italian: avvitamento — aerobatic maneuver
  • Italian: tonneau — aerobatic maneuver
  • Latin: volūtus āerius — aerobatic maneuver
  • Polish: beczka — aerobatic maneuver
  • Portuguese: rotação aérea — aerobatic maneuver
  • Russian: бо́чка (bóčka) — aerobatic maneuver
  • Spanish: tonel — aerobatic maneuver
  • Swedish: roll — aerobatic maneuver
  • French: tonneau — full 360° horizontal rotation by a car
  • Irish: rolladh bairille — full 360° horizontal rotation by a car
  • Spanish: vuelta de campana — full 360° horizontal rotation by a car
  • Swedish: roll — full 360° horizontal rotation by a car