tripwire

[ trip-wahyuhr ]

/ ˈtrɪpˌwaɪər /

Save This Word!

noun

a wire used to set off concealed explosives, as one stretched across a footpath to be struck and activated by the foot of an enemy soldier.

a wire that activates a trap, camera, or other device when stepped on, tripped on, or otherwise disturbed.

QUIZ

FIRE UP YOUR VOCAB FOR A "RED" SYNONYMS QUIZ

No fire engine reds here, only a fierce collection of vibrant words for the color red to test yourself on.

Question 1 of 7

What does "amaranth" mean?

a legendary stone of impenetrable hardness

an imaginary, undying flower

a mythical creature

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of tripwire

trip¹ + wire

Words nearby tripwire

Triptolemus, triptych, triptyque, trip up, Tripura, tripwire, triquetra, triquetrous, triquetrum, triradiate, triradius

How to use tripwire in a sentence

The tripwire for an unfolding plot to take control of the flight would be the transponder, operated by a switch beside the pilots.
Who Gagged the Search for MH370?|Clive Irving|June 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The transponder is really the tripwire for whatever began to unfold on that jet.
The Tripwire on Flight 370|Clive Irving|March 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The emotions of Democrats are on a tripwire, ready to react at the slightest provocation.
Is Hillary Ditching Senate Dems?|Eleanor Clift|February 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for tripwire

tripwire

/ (ˈtrɪpˌwaɪə) /

noun

a wire that activates a trap, mine, etc, when tripped over

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