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View synonyms for tailgate

tailgate

1

[ teyl-geyt ]

noun

  1. the board or gate at the back of a wagon, truck, station wagon, etc., which can be removed or let down for convenience in loading or unloading.


verb (used without object)

, tail·gat·ed, tail·gat·ing.
  1. to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of another vehicle.

verb (used with object)

, tail·gat·ed, tail·gat·ing.
  1. to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of (another vehicle).

adjective

  1. pertaining to or set up on a tailgate:

    a tailgate picnic before the football game.

tailgate

2

[ teyl-geyt ]

noun

, Jazz.
  1. a style of playing the trombone, especially in Dixieland jazz, distinguished especially by the use of melodic counterpoint and long glissandi.

tailgate

/ ˈteɪlˌɡeɪt /

noun

  1. another name for tailboard
  2. a door at the rear of a hatchback vehicle
“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

verb

  1. to drive very close behind (a vehicle)
“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈtailˌgater, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of tailgate1

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55; tail 1 + gate 1

Origin of tailgate2

First recorded in 1945–50; so called from the usual seat of trombonists in trucks carrying musicians during a parade
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Example Sentences

The goal is to create an in-game tailgate environment behind that end zone.

During that evidence he admitted escaping from Wandsworth Prison in London by hanging in a makeshift sling under a food delivery lorry, concealed by the tailgate.

From BBC

Despite the country’s political polarization, many people in these tailgate groups weren’t even sure who their football friends were supporting.

But it had tailgating and built an intense connection between those who showed up, Stang said.

There are no door staff here, and I tailgated some residents through a starkly decorated lobby.

From BBC

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