Plain English Meaning

Roll is when the airplane tips one wing down and the other wing up, like leaning to the side. The pilot makes this happen by turning the control wheel or moving the stick left or right.

Full Definition

Rotation of the airplane about its longitudinal axis — the imaginary line running from the nose to the tail. Roll is controlled by the ailerons and causes one wing to move down while the other moves up, banking the airplane left or right.

Context Anchor

Seen when learning how the flight controls move the airplane, especially when using the control wheel or stick to enter, correct, or stop a bank.

Derivation

From Old English 'rollian,' meaning to turn or . The word is used here in its rotational sense — the airplane about its lengthwise , the same way a log rolls about its long axis.