Definition

1. Noun:

   • A seesaw; a long, narrow board supported by a central pivot: A playground apparatus on which two children sit at opposite ends and move up and down alternately by pushing the ground with their feet.

2. Verb:

   • To ride or play on a seesaw: To move up and down in the manner of a seesaw.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The children took turns on the teeter-totter in the park.
  • The old wooden teeter-totter squeaked with every movement.

• Verb:

  • The siblings love to teeter-totter for hours.
  • They were teeter-tottering happily when the bell rang.

Advanced Usage

• "to teeter-totter on a decision": To vacillate or waver between choices.
  • The committee teeter-tottered on the proposal for weeks before finally approving it.

Variants and Related Words

• Seesaw (n/v): The more common term for "teeter-totter," with identical meaning.
• Teeterboard (n): A less common synonym.
• Teeter (v): To move or balance unsteadily; sway back and forth.

Synonyms

• Seesaw (n/v)
• Tilting board (n)
• Dandle board (n, archaic)

Related Phrases

• Teeter-totter effect: A metaphorical phrase describing a situation where two opposing forces or conditions alternate in dominance.
  • The economy experienced a teeter-totter effect between inflation and recession.

Notes on Usage

• "Teeter-totter" is primarily used in North American English. The term "seesaw" is more common in British and international English.
• As a verb, it is often used intransitively (e.g., ). It can also be used transitively in a causative sense (e.g., ), though this is less frequent.

Noun

1. a plaything consisting of a board balanced on a fulcrum; the board is ridden up and down by children at either end

Verb

1. ride on a plank