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tightrope

/ˌtaɪtˈroʊp/
/ˈtaɪtrəʊp/
IPA guide

Other forms: tightropes

A tightrope is a thin, tightly stretched wire or rope meant to be walked on. If you go to the circus, you may see acrobats doing tricks on tightropes high above the ground.

Some tightrope walkers hold long sticks that help them balance, and others do somersaults, juggle, or dance, all while balancing on the tightrope. Another kind of acrobatics is slackrope walking, performed on loose or slack wires or ropes. The technical term for the art of walking on a tightrope or slackrope is funambulism — and a person who does it is a funambulist.

Definitions of tightrope
  1. noun
    tightly stretched rope or wire on which acrobats perform high above the ground
    see moresee less
    types:
    high wire
    a tightrope very high above the ground
    type of:
    rope
    a strong line
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