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switchback

UK/ˈswɪt͡ʃbæk/US/ˈswɪt͡ʃˌbæk/
nounC1Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #14,884 of 15,258leans written

Other forms: switchbacks

A switchback is a sharp bend where a path doubles back up a slope. A series of switchbacks, climb the switchbacks, a switchback road.

They exist because a gradient a road can climb is far gentler than the hill, so the route trades distance for height. Cutting the corner between them destroys the path and causes erosion. In older British use a switchback was a rollercoaster.

Definitions of switchback

  1. 1nounswitchbackA sharp bend where a path doubles back up a slope.C1

    “The path climbs the mountain in a series of tight switchbacks.”

switchback is a bend.

Where it comes from

Switch plus back, from American railway building, where a line reversed direction to climb a steep grade.

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Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Camping & Outdoors

Practise this word

switchback in the wild

  • A railway zig zag or switchback is a railway operation in which a train is required to switch its direction of travel to continue its journey.

    Zig zag (railway)

  • Some switchbacks do not come in pairs, and the train may then need to travel backwards for a considerable distance.

    Zig zag (railway)

  • The railway ceased operation in 1971 and was largely dismantled, although parts of its infrastructure, including sections of the original switchback system, were retained.

    Historical Logging Switchback Railway

  • The 1885 patent states the invention relates to the gravity double track switchback railway, which had predicated the inclined plane railway, patented in 1878 by Richard Knudsen.

    Switchback Railway

  • In the northbound direction, the Line S2 suburban trains from Huangtudian to Badaling & Yanqing use the western switchback, changing direction in Qinglongqiao West railway station.

    Qinglongqiao West railway station

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.