joystick

joystick — noun

1. a hand-operated lever that you move in different directions to control movement

1.名詞B1
釋義

a hand-operated lever that you move in different directions to control movement in a computer or video game

例句

Élise grabbed the joystick and moved her spaceship to the left.

collocation: grab + a joystick

The old joystick on the arcade machine had a worn red button on top.

adjective before joystick describes physical condition

同義詞
  • gamepad

    a flat handheld controller with buttons and thumbsticks, different from a stick-shaped joystick

  • control stick

    more technical term, often used in aviation contexts or for specific gaming peripherals

文法句型

joystick + verb (e.g., controls, moves)

hold / use / grab + a joystick

用法筆記

Often used in gaming contexts; may refer to the complete device (including buttons) or just the movable lever part.

常見錯誤

❌I moved the joystick for controlling the character.
✅I moved the joystick to control the character.
💡use the to-infinitive, not for + gerund, when stating purpose.

2. a vertical lever inside a plane or small aircraft; the pilot pushes or pulls it

2.名詞B2
釋義

a vertical lever inside a plane or small aircraft; the pilot pushes or pulls it to make the vehicle climb, descend, or turn

例句

The pilot pulled the joystick back and the small plane began to climb.

pull + the joystick back (aviation collocation)

Christopher kept both hands on the joystick during the bumpy landing.

同義詞
  • control stick

    interchangeable term in aviation; slightly more formal than joystick

  • control yoke

    a wheel-shaped control found in larger passenger aircraft, different from a stick-shaped joystick

文法句型

pull / push + the joystick

joystick + controls (something)

用法筆記

In modern aviation, the term control yoke is more common for large aircraft; joystick typically describes the side-stick or centre-stick in smaller planes and military aircraft.

常見錯誤

❌The pilot used a joystick to steer the airplane like a car.
✅The pilot moved the joystick to change the aircraft's pitch and roll.
💡a joystick does not steer like a wheel; it controls climbing, descending, and tilting.