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Seesaw

//ˈsiː.sɔː// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    fluctuating.
Noun
  1. 1
    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.
  2. 2
    a plaything consisting of a board balanced on a fulcrum; the board is ridden up and down by children at either end wordnet
  3. 3
    A series of up-and-down movements.
  4. 4
    A series of alternating movements or feelings.

    "He has been arguing in a circle; there is thus a see-saw between the hypothesis and the fact."

  5. 5
    An abnormal breathing pattern caused by airway obstruction, characterized by paradoxical chest and abdominal movement. attributive
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  1. 6
    A tactic in which a piece repeatedly gains material, while simultaneously creating an inescapable series of alternating direct and discovered checks.
Verb
  1. 1
    To use a seesaw. intransitive
  2. 2
    move unsteadily, with a rocking motion wordnet
  3. 3
    To fluctuate. broadly, intransitive

    "When I think of your kisses / My mind see-saws"

  4. 4
    move up and down as if on a seesaw wordnet
  5. 5
    To cause to move backward and forward in seesaw fashion. transitive

    "He see-saws himself to and fro."

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  1. 6
    ride on a plank wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

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.

Etymology 2

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.

Etymology 3

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.

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