acrobat

/ˈæk.ɹə.bæt/

ÆK · ɹə · bæt (3 syllables)

English Noun Top 27,158

Definition

An athlete who performs acts requiring skill, agility and coordination, often as part of a circus performance.

Etymology

From French acrobate, from Ancient Greek ἀκροβάτης (akrobátēs, “walking on tiptoe, climbing aloft”), from ἀκροβατέω (akrobatéō, “I walk on tiptoe”), from ἄκρον (ákron, “highest or farthest point, mountain top, peak”) + βαίνω (baínō, “I walk, step”).