switchback

[ swich-bak ]
/ ˈswɪtʃˌbæk /

noun

a highway, as in a mountainous area, having many hairpin curves.
Railroads. a zigzag track arrangement for climbing a steep grade.
British. roller coaster.

verb (used without object)

(of a road, railroad track, etc.) to progress through a series of hairpin curves; zigzag: The road switchbacks up the mountain.

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advocate
to give up possession or occupancy of.
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Origin of switchback

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; switch + back2

Words nearby switchback

switch yard, switch-hit, switch-hitter, switch-off, switch-on, switchback, switchblade, switchboard, switched-on, switched-star, switcheroo
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for switchback

British Dictionary definitions for switchback

switchback
/ (ˈswɪtʃˌbæk) /

noun

a mountain road, railway, or track which rises and falls sharply many times or a sharp rise and fall on such a road, railway, or track
another word (esp Brit) for big dipper
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012