jackknife
/ˈdʒækˌnaɪf/
verb
- To fold or bend in the middle, like a jackknife closing.
- The boat jackknifed as it hit the wave.
- Be careful not to let the ladder jackknife when you fold it.
- The trailer jackknifed on the icy road.
- To perform a jackknife dive.
- He practiced jackknifing off the diving board every day.
- The swimmer jackknifed and then straightened out just before the splash.
- She jackknifed gracefully into the water.
noun
- A large folding knife with a blade that folds into the handle.
- He pulled out his jackknife to cut the rope.
- She used a jackknife to sharpen a stick for roasting marshmallows.
- My grandfather always carried a jackknife in his pocket.
- A dive in which the diver bends at the waist, touches the feet, and then straightens out before entering the water.
- The coach taught the team how to do a jackknife dive.
- She performed a perfect jackknife off the high board.
- He won the competition with a clean jackknife into the pool.
- A situation in which a truck and its trailer fold together at an angle, like a pocketknife closing.
- Police closed the road after a jackknife blocked both lanes.
- Jackknives are a common cause of highway accidents.
- The truck driver lost control and the rig went into a jackknife.
Synonyms