Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
A railway track on a steep slope in a zigzag formation, in which a train travels in a reverse direction at each switch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: attributive, figuratively, often
Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A railway track on which there are steep ascents and descents, a train moving partially or fully by the force of gravity using the momentum generated when descending to travel up an ascending part of the track; especially (UK, dated), such a track built for fun rides at an amusement park; a type of rollercoaster.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: attributive, figuratively, often
Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A flight path consisting of a series of steep ascents and descents, generally flown as a stunt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: attributive, broadly, figuratively, often
Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A path or road having a series of steep ascents and descents.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: UK, attributive, broadly, figuratively, often
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A sharp bend in a path or road which causes a traveller to almost reverse their direction of travel, especially one of a series of such bends on an incline; a hairpin bend; also a path or road having such a series of bends.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Canada, US, attributive, broadly, figuratively, often
Topics: road, transport
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To take a zigzag course or path.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: attributive, figuratively, intransitive, often
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: zigzag
Antonyms: none provided
History
The noun is derived from switch (“to turn (a train) from one railway track to another using a switch”, verb) + back (“so as to reverse direction and return”, adverb). The verb is derived from the noun.
Across languages
9 source translations are retained for this English entry.
