Definition
Rearward force applied by the pilot to the control yoke or stick, which deflects the elevator upward. This raises the airplane's nose, increases the angle of attack, and is the primary input used to initiate a climb or arrest a descent.
Plain English
Pulling back on the yoke or stick. That movement tilts the tail's elevator up, which makes the nose of the airplane rise.
Context Anchor
Seen in climb, takeoff, and landing discussions when the pilot is controlling the airplane’s nose position.
Derivation
"Elevator" comes from Latin elevare, meaning "to lift up." The elevator is the hinged surface on the tail that lifts (or lowers) the nose. "Back pressure" describes the direction of the pilot's hand force on the controls -- toward the body, i.e., rearward.
Why Pilots Care
Correct application produces a controlled climb while preserving airspeed; too little allows the nose to drop and airspeed to rise, while too much risks a stall.
Grounding Statement
Picture gently pulling the control wheel toward you and seeing the nose move upward against the horizon.
Intuition Check
Back does not mean the airplane moves backward, and pressure does not mean air pressure here. It means the pilot’s pulling force on the elevator control.
Example Sentence 1
As the airplane reached rotation speed, the pilot applied smooth back elevator pressure to lift the nose off the runway.
Example Sentence 2
In a climbing turn, additional back elevator pressure is needed to maintain the desired pitch attitude as bank angle increases.