Definition of SEESAW

seesaw

Meanings

Plural: seesaws

Noun

  • a plaything consisting of a board balanced on a fulcrum; the board is ridden up and down by children at either end
  • A structure composed of a plank, balanced in the middle, used as a game in which one person goes up as the other goes down.
  • A series of up-and-down movements.
  • A series of alternating movements or feelings.
  • An abnormal breathing pattern caused by airway obstruction, characterized by paradoxical chest and abdominal movement.

Verb

  • ride on a plank
  • move up and down as if on a seesaw
  • move unsteadily, with a rocking motion
  • To use a seesaw.
  • To fluctuate.
  • To cause to move backward and forward in seesaw fashion.

Adj

  • fluctuating.

Origin / Etymology

Probably a frequentative imitative of rhythmic back-and-forth, up-and-down or zigzagging motion, such as teeter-totter, zigzag, flip-flop, ping pong, etc., under the umbrella term of reduplication; also likely influenced by the verbs see and saw of either present or past tense.

Synonyms

dandle board, teeter, teeter-totter, teeterboard, teetertotter, tilting board, totter

Scrabble Score: 9

seesaw is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
seesaw is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
seesaw is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

seesaw is a valid Words With Friends word