Acrobat

//ˈæk.ɹə.bæt// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An athlete who performs acts requiring skill, agility and coordination, often as part of a circus performance.
  2. 2
    an athlete who performs acts requiring skill and agility and coordination wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To practise acrobatics.

    "Tumbling is different from posturing, and means throwing summersets and walking on your hands; and acrobating means the two together […]"

  2. 2
    To move like an acrobat (with agility, balance, long leaps, etc.). figuratively

    "We have known […] veteran reporters, so dumbfounded and confounded by the first fire of Ralph, and his grand and lofty acrobating in elocution, that they up, seized their hat and paper, and sloped, horrified at the prospect of an attempt to “take down” Mr. Emerson."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From French acrobate, from Ancient Greek ἀκροβάτης (akrobátēs, “walking on tiptoe, climbing aloft”), from ἀκροβατέω (akrobatéō, “I walk on tiptoe”), from ἄκρον (ákron, “highest or farthest point, mountain top, peak”) + βαίνω (baínō, “I walk, step”).

Etymology 2

From French acrobate, from Ancient Greek ἀκροβάτης (akrobátēs, “walking on tiptoe, climbing aloft”), from ἀκροβατέω (akrobatéō, “I walk on tiptoe”), from ἄκρον (ákron, “highest or farthest point, mountain top, peak”) + βαίνω (baínō, “I walk, step”).

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