noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
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.
Sound
Pronunciation
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General-American:/ˈtaɪtˌɹoʊp/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:T AY1 T R OW2 P
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A difficult or desperate situation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To walk on a tightrope.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
tightly stretched rope or wire on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rope
Narrower terms: high wire
History
Etymology
From tight + rope.
Across languages
Translations
17 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
опънато въже
(opǎnato vǎže)
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Catalan:
corda fluixa
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Chinese Mandarin:
鋼絲 /钢丝
(gāngsī)
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Finnish:
nuora
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
French:
corde raide
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Georgian:
ბაგირი
(bagiri)
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
German:
Drahtseil
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Greek:
σχοινοβασία
(schoinovasía)
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Hungarian:
(drót)kötél
(kifeszített/cirkuszi)
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Latin:
fūnis rectus
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Polish:
lina
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Portuguese:
corda bamba
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Spanish:
cuerda floja
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Spanish:
soga funambulesca
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Swedish:
lina
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Welsh:
rhaff dyn
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
Welsh:
rhaff uchel
— tightly stretched rope or cable on which acrobats perform high above the ground
