Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [jak-nahyf]
- /ˈdʒækˌnaɪf/
- /ˈʤæknaɪf/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [jak-nahyf]
- /ˈdʒækˌnaɪf/
Definitions of jackknife word
- noun plural jackknife a large pocketknife. 1
- noun plural jackknife Fancy Diving. a dive in which the diver bends in midair to touch the toes, keeping the legs straight, and then straightens out. 1
- verb without object jackknife to bend or double over like a jackknife: The prizefighter jackknifed and fell when he was hit in the stomach. 1
- verb without object jackknife (of a trailer truck) to have the cab and trailer swivel at the linkage until they form a V shape, as the result of an abrupt stop or accident. 1
- verb without object jackknife (in diving) to perform a jackknife. 1
- verb without object jackknife to move rapidly at an abrupt angle. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of jackknife
First appearance:
before 1705 One of the 50% oldest English words
1705-15, Americanism; jack1 (cf. jockteleg) + knife
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Jackknife
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
jackknife popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 70% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
jackknife usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for jackknife
verb jackknife
- turn — to cause to move around on an axis or about a center; rotate: to turn a wheel.
- skid — a plank, bar, log, or the like, especially one of a pair, on which something heavy may be slid or rolled along.
- swerve — to turn aside abruptly in movement or direction; deviate suddenly from the straight or direct course.
- veer — to change direction or turn about or aside; shift, turn, or change from one course, position, inclination, etc., to another: The speaker kept veering from his main topic. The car veered off the road.
- swivel — a fastening device that allows the thing fastened to turn around freely upon it, especially to turn in a full circle.
noun jackknife
- cannonball — A cannonball is a heavy metal ball that is fired from a cannon.
- gainer — a person or thing that gains.
- plunge — to cast or thrust forcibly or suddenly into something, as a liquid, a penetrable substance, a place, etc.; immerse; submerge: to plunge a dagger into one's heart.
- swallow dive — swan dive.
Top questions with jackknife
- what are jackknife sit ups?
- what is a jackknife?
- what does jackknife mean?
- how does a truck jackknife?
- how to do jackknife crunches?
- what is jackknife position?
- how to do a jackknife dive?
- how to do a jackknife?
- what is a jackknife sofa?
- what is a jackknife sit up?
- how to do a jackknife sit up?
- what causes a truck to jackknife?
- what does jackknife a truck mean?
- how to do jackknife?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with j
- Words starting with ja
- Words starting with jac
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- Words starting with jackknife