noun

• 1

  (also flying trapeze)

  A horizontal bar hanging by two ropes and free to swing, used by acrobats in a circus.

  ‘Henthorn, a Chicagoan, got hooked on the trapeze after seeing a circus show.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘At first, she can't even swing on the trapeze; she merely hangs, then falls to the net.’
  • ‘Nobody had ever made theatre look like it, let alone Shakespeare - on a bare white stage with trapezes and ropes.’
  • ‘In addition to providing books, board games, and magic lantern shows, the Boys' Club of New York opened a gymnasium with trapezes, horizontal bars and boxing equipment.’
  • ‘From that she swung and caught hold of one of the set of looped vines and using them as trapezes she swung her way across to the flower in the middle.’
  • ‘The Flying Fangalis swung across the trapeze with curved blades, slashing the flailing woman across her mid-section.’
  • ‘Swinging on a trapeze is like your third-grade swingset times ten, and the surge of childish adrenaline makes you giddy.’
  • ‘Using silks, ropes, a trapeze and an aerial hoop, the duo examine, with minimal words, that indecipherable emotion.’
  • ‘He also tried his hand at boxing, baseball, hockey, and the circus trapeze.’
  • ‘She also happens to be tied up with a cruel and wealthy Duke who wants her to swing on his trapeze.’
  • ‘Here endeth the circus metaphor: The trapeze I wanted got taken out of the ring today.’
  • ‘If you long to walk on stilts, act like a clown or swing on a trapeze, this is the place for you.’
  • ‘The six-strong troupe entertained children and parents alike with circus acts, such as the trapeze, acrobatics, juggling and plate spinning.’
  • ‘Which means they're in just as much of a bind as we are, which means Kim has all kinds of cards to play, which means these talks will be a six-ring circus featuring nuclear weapons on the flying trapeze.’
  • ‘She makes swinging on a trapeze look way too easy.’
  • ‘Also, I'm working on the bungee, and I'm trying really hard to learn the trapeze.’
  • ‘I think she has in her head a little trapeze with a five-year-old like a circus monkey swinging on it.’
  • ‘They swoop over the crowd on wires and perform acrobatic feats on trapezes.’
  • ‘This will be supported by 45 street performers who will entertain the crowds playing music, walking the trapeze, and performing acrobatics.’
  • ‘About 45 street performers will be entertaining the crowds by playing music, walking the trapeze and performing acrobatics.’

• 2Sailing
  A harness attached by a cable to a dinghy's mast, enabling a sailor to balance the boat by leaning backwards far out over the windward side.

  ‘The dinghy has three sails and a trapeze, which allows Katherine to lean out of the boat on a wire to counteract the force of the sails and keep the boat upright.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘He introduced innovations in standing and running rigging, sail setting, hydrofoil under-water gear, remotely controlled pumps, self-draining devices, controllable, flexible rigs, trapezes and out-board hung rudders.’
  • ‘In the comfort of their trapezes and trampolines, the multihull sailors had an easier time than the courageous Laser sailors, who were constantly adjusting sails, gear and centerboards to the gusts of wind and choppy waters.’
  • ‘These boats added wings and a trapeze, so crews could lean out over the water, providing ballast with their own bodies.’