noun
zigzag
ZIHG-zag
noun
1
A line or path that goes sharply from side to side in alternating directions.
"The mountain trail was cut into a zigzag to make the climb easier."
"Lightning split the sky in a jagged zigzag."
verb
1
To move by turning sharply from side to side.
"The cyclist zigzagged through the traffic."
"She zigzagged across the field trying to avoid the sprinklers."
adj
1
Drunk.
"By midnight he was completely zigzag and couldn't find his coat."
How to Use Zigzag
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA path or motion that alternates sharply left and right instead of going in a straight line.
When to use it
The "drunk" sense is slang and dated; stick to the path/motion senses in everyday writing.
Common pairings
zigzag pattern
zigzag across
zigzag line
Word Forms
more zigzag comparative, zigzagged past tense, zigzags plural, zigzags singular, most zigzag superlative
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The mountain trail was cut into a _____ to make the climb easier.
Etymology
Borrowed from French zigzag in the 18th century; possibly inspired by the shape of the letter Z, which appears twice in the word.