straddle
To sit or stand with a leg on each side of somethingTo sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.
» The car was straddling the tracks when it was struck by a train.
Meaning
8 senses(transitive)To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.
grätschen, spreizen, breitbeinig stehen
сидеть верхомsidetʹ verxom
розставити ногиrozstavyty nohy, сидіти верхиsydity verxy
sit or stand astride of
(transitive)To be on both sides of something; to have parts that are in different places, regions, etc.
überspannen, überbrücken, überdecken
(transitive)To consider or favor two apparently opposite sides; to be noncommittal.
Wanting to please both sides, he straddled the issue.
vermitteln, ausweichen, zwischen zwei Seiten schwanken
(transitive)To form a disorderly sprawl; to spread out irregularly.
This weed straddles the entire garden.
Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks
sich verteilen, streuen, sich zerstreuen
To fire successive artillery shots in front of and behind of a target, especially in order to determine its range (the term "bracket" is often used instead).
To place a voluntary raise prior to receiving cards (only by the first player after the blinds).
(intransitive)To stand with the ends staggered; said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub.
To execute a commodities market spread.
Examples
8 sentencesThe car was straddling the tracks when it was struck by a train.
Sami straddled the pothole.
She's straddling his dick.
The construction straddled two centuries.
ruСтроительство длилось два столетия. — Ivanovb
Never shift gears when you're crossing railroad tracks, as it could cause your car to stall straddling the tracks.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 4
Origin
As a verb, attested since the 1560s. Most likely, an alteration of dialectal striddle. TheAs a verb, attested since the 1560s. Most likely, an alteration of dialectal striddle. The noun is first attested in the 1610s.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
straddles, straddling, straddled, straddledSynonyms
4 synonyms- range or extend over; occupy a certain area:range
Word family
11 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle