Other

zigzag

Pronunciation: /ˈzɪgzag/

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Definition of zigzag

noun

a line or course having abrupt alternate right and left turns:she traced a zigzag on the metal with her finger
a turn on a zigzag course:the road descends in a series of sharp zigzags

adjective

having the form of a zigzag; veering alternately to right and left:when chased by a predator, some animals take a zigzag course

adverb

so as to move right and left alternately:she drives zigzag across the city

verb (zigzags, zigzagging, zigzagged)

[no object]

have or move along in a zigzag course:the path zigzagged between dry rises in the land

Derivatives

zigzaggedly

Origin:

early 18th century: from French, from German Zickzack, symbolic of alternation of direction, first applied to fortifications

Spelling rule

If a verb ends with a single vowel plus a consonant, and the stress is at the end of the word (as in refer), double the last letter when adding -ing or -ed: (zigzags, zigzagging, zigzagged).

zigzag in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of zigzag in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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