noun
tightrope
TYT-rohp
noun
1
A rope or cable stretched tight, high above the ground, on which acrobats perform balancing feats.
"The performer walked across the tightrope without a safety net."
2
A difficult or precarious situation requiring careful balance.
"The negotiator walked a tightrope between the two angry sides."
How to Use Tightrope
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tensioned rope for circus balancing acts, or figuratively, a delicate situation.
Common pairings
walk a tightrope
tightrope walker
Word Forms
tightroped past tense, tightropes plural, tightropes singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tightrope”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The performer walked across the _____ without a safety net.
Etymology
A combination of "tight" and "rope," describing a rope pulled taut for balancing acts.