Definition
The use of the elevator — a movable surface on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabilizer at the tail — to raise or lower the airplane's nose by changing the angle of attack of the wing. Moving the control yoke or stick aft deflects the elevator up, which pushes the tail down and raises the nose. Moving it forward deflects the elevator down, which lifts the tail and lowers the nose.
Plain English
How the pilot tilts the airplane's nose up or down. Pull back, the nose comes up. Push forward, the nose goes down. The control surface that does this is at the tail.
Context Anchor
You meet this term when learning the primary flight controls, especially during takeoff, level flight, descents, and landing practice.
Derivation
Elevator' comes from the Latin elevare, 'to lift up.' It's the same word used for a building elevator that raises and lowers people. On an airplane it raises and lowers the nose — which is why the name fits, even though the surface itself is at the tail.
Why Pilots Care
Precise elevator input is required to maintain desired airspeed, climb or descent rate, and to prevent stalls or excessive loads during maneuvers.
Intuition Check
Do not think of “elevator” as a lift inside a building, and do not think of “pitch” as a sound. Here, the elevator is a tail control surface, and pitch means the airplane’s nose moving up or down.
Example Sentence 1
During the flare, the student used smooth elevator pitch control to gradually raise the nose and touch down on the main wheels.
Example Sentence 2
During stall recovery the student relaxed back pressure on the yoke to reduce elevator pitch control and allow the nose to drop.