Library / English Dictionary

JACKKNIFE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: jackknives   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A dive in which the diver bends to touch the ankles before straightening out

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("jackknife" is a kind of...):

dive; diving (a headlong plunge into water)

Derivation:

jackknife (dive into the water bending the body at the waist at a right angle, like a jackknife)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A large knife with one or more folding blades

Synonyms:

clasp knife; jackknife

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("jackknife" is a kind of...):

pocket knife; pocketknife (a knife with a blade that folds into the handle; suitable for carrying in the pocket)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Dive into the water bending the body at the waist at a right angle, like a jackknife

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "jackknife" is one way to...):

dive (plunge into water)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

jackknife (a dive in which the diver bends to touch the ankles before straightening out)

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