PIGGYBACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does piggyback mean? 

• PIGGYBACK (noun)
  The noun PIGGYBACK has 1 sense:

1. the act of carrying something piggyback

  Familiarity information: PIGGYBACK used as a noun is very rare.

• PIGGYBACK (verb)
  The verb PIGGYBACK has 5 senses:

1. ride on someone's shoulders or back

2. haul truck trailers loaded with commodities on railroad cars

3. haul by railroad car

4. support on the back and shoulders

5. bring into alignment with

  Familiarity information: PIGGYBACK used as a verb is common.

• PIGGYBACK (adverb)
  The adverb PIGGYBACK has 2 senses:

1. on a railroad flatcar

2. on the back or shoulder or astraddle on the hip

  Familiarity information: PIGGYBACK used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PIGGYBACK (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of carrying something piggyback

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("piggyback" is a kind of...):

carry (the act of carrying something)

• PIGGYBACK (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they piggyback    ... he / she / it piggybacks   
Past simple: piggybacked   
Past participle: piggybacked   
-ing form: piggybacking   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Ride on someone's shoulders or back

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "piggyback" is one way to...):

ride (be carried or travel on or in a vehicle)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 2

Meaning:

Haul truck trailers loaded with commodities on railroad cars

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "piggyback" is one way to...):

haul (transport in a vehicle)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Haul by railroad car

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "piggyback" is one way to...):

haul (transport in a vehicle)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 4

Meaning:

Support on the back and shoulders

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

He piggybacked her child so she could see the show

Hypernyms (to "piggyback" is one way to...):

bear; carry; hold (support or hold in a certain manner)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 5

Meaning:

Bring into alignment with

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

an amendment to piggyback the current law

Hypernyms (to "piggyback" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

• PIGGYBACK (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

On a railroad flatcar

Synonyms:

pickaback; pig-a-back; piggyback

Context example:

the trailer rode piggyback across the country

Sense 2

Meaning:

On the back or shoulder or astraddle on the hip

Synonyms:

pickaback; pig-a-back; piggyback

Context example:

she carried her child piggyback