Plain English Meaning

A push that tries to swing the airplane's nose sideways — to the left or right — rather than up, down, or rolling.

Full Definition

A force acting on the airplane that tends to rotate it about its vertical axis, causing the nose to swing left or right. In a climb, the most common source is the left-turning tendencies produced by engine power, particularly torque, P-factor, slipstream, and gyroscopic precession.

Context Anchor

Seen when discussing how power changes, climbs, and rudder use affect the airplane’s tendency to turn its nose left or right.