51Թ

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switchback

[ swich-bak ]

noun

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


verb (used without object)

  1. (of a road, railroad track, etc.) to progress through a series of hairpin curves; zigzag:

    The road switchbacks up the mountain.

switchback

/ ˈɪʃˌæ /

noun

  1. 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
  2. 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
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of switchback1

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; switch + back 2
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

From there, we hiked up a short but steep switchback that ended on a dirt plateau.

From

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Dec. 12 a recall pertaining to 2.6 million Stanley Switchback and Trigger Action Travel Mugs because of potential burn hazards.

From

I waited with several other hikers before progressing, only to be stopped at the next switchback by an angry rattlesnake, mid-trail, tail in the air.

From

I considered all of this as I rounded the first switchback recently for the umpteenth time.

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The start of the hike features most of the elevation gain, as you switchback through trees, but the undulating grade of this trail is manageable.

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