sidetrack means A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction); a railroad siding.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, sidetrack ranks #3,412 of 42,747 for Qualifying.
sidetrack is pronounced /ˈsaɪdˌtɹæk/.
Etymology
From side + track.
noun
- A second, relatively short length of track just to the side of a railroad track, joined to the main track by switches at one or both ends, used either for unloading freight, or to allow two trains on a same track to meet (opposite directions) or pass (same direction); a railroad siding.
- Any auxiliary railroad track, as differentiated from a siding, that runs adjacent to the main track.
- A smaller tunnel or well drilled as an auxiliary off a main tunnel or well.
- An alternate train of thought, issue, topic, or activity, that is a deviation or distraction from the topic at hand or central activity, and secondary or subordinate in importance or effectiveness.e.g.“Stay focused on the story; you keep getting lost in all of these little sidetracks.”
verb
- To divert (a locomotive or train) on to a lesser used track in order to allow other trains to pass.e.g.“It was just after 5 p.m.; would the non-stop "Capitals Limited" come up next? It was due in at 5.30 and other trains are often side-tracked in its favour.” — 1951 January, R. A. H. Weight, “A Railway Recorder in Essex and Hertfordshire”, in Railway Magazine, page 46:
- To divert or distract (someone) from a main issue or course of action with an alternate or less relevant topic or activity; or, to use deliberate trickery or sly wordplay when talking to (a person) in order to avoid discussion of a subject.e.g.“Sorry I'm late. I got sidetracked helping my friend move some furniture.”
- To sideline; to push aside; to divert or distract from, reducing (something) to a secondary or subordinate position.e.g.“The project was sidetracked in favor of a more popular program.”
- To deviate briefly from the topic at hand.e.g.“Just to sidetrack a little bit from the subject I will explain my reasoning.”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- sidetracker 71% match — One who sidetracks something. vs sidetrack →
- sidetrip 66% match — A short trip that one takes interrupting or as a break from a larger trip vs sidetrack →
- sideroad 63% match — A lesser road leading off a main road. vs sidetrack →
- trackage 63% match — railway tracks collectively vs sidetrack →
- backshunt 60% match — A section of railway track which gives access to a siding (or another section of railway line) only by reversing direction; also a train movement which uses such track. vs sidetrack →
- switchback 59% match — A railway track on a steep slope in a zigzag formation, in which a train travels in a reverse direction at each switch. vs sidetrack →
- sidestall 58% match — A stall, usually located out of the main way or to the side of another primary stall. vs sidetrack →
- derail 58% match — Synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail. vs sidetrack →