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Glite Dictionary
🕹️ A control lever 🕹️ A virtual control
joystick

joystick

13 3.4
A stick you move by hand to control a machine like a computer or plane
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɔɪstɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : joystick
  • You move this joystick downwards and then you see how the cells move downwards.
  • operate a joystick
  • control the joystick
  • joystick controller

So we will set the path with the joystick over here.

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Examples

  • In both types of experiments, subjects had to use a joystick to move an arrow on a computer screen.

    Academic text (1999)

  • As the infant pushes the joystick one way or another, the robot turns.

    Academic text (2011)

  • So we will set the path with the joystick over here.

    iJustine

  • So push them in towards the middle of the joystick and that should pop out.

  • Yeah, it's got a little joystick back here so we can go up and down.

  • What does this joystick do?

    Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

  • This game just uses the joystick and two buttons.

  • You also have a joystick over here so you can control manually the pan and tilt.

  • Give me the joystick.

    Ride Along (2014)

  • He moved the joystick to navigate through the game's menus.

Synonyms

control stick
vsjoystick
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A lever a pilot uses to move a plane up, down, left, and right

is a general hand operated lever used across machines, computers, and aircraft
sidestick
vsjoystick
  • Specialized
7.6

A control stick at the side of a pilot's seat used to move the plane

is a hand lever used in machines, computers, and aircraft rather than side mounted

How Complex

elevon
  • Specialized
9.9
control stick
  • Specialized
1 5.0
joystick
  • Specialized
13 3.4
knob
66 1.4
dial
63 1.5
button
730 1.0

Surface Forms

joystick singular
joysticks plural

Morphology

joystick = joy + stick (semi-transparent) = joy + stick

The compound clearly contains 'stick' (a lever), but the 'joy' element does not transparently explain the device's function, so the meaning is not fully predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Joystick comes from putting joy ('pleasure') and stick together; early pilots and players called the simple hand lever a 'joy stick' because it made control feel easy and fun. That's why a joystick today means a hand-held lever you move to operate a machine or aircraft.