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Can tightrope be used as a verb? Or is it strictly a noun?

Example from my work in progress:

As most young children do, I acted upon the irresistible urge to tightrope, on top of the cobblestone.

If so, is 'tightrope' the correct spelling for the verb form or should it be hyphenated, like 'tight-rope'.

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  • Practically any noun can be "verbed" these days. However, do so only when the meaning is obvious in the context with no ambiguity. Good Luck.
    – Kris
    Feb 6, 2019 at 7:21

2 Answers 2

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Tightrope is a noun. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tightrope

The associated verb phrase is "to tightrope walk."

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  • Sure, but see also my comment at OP.
    – Kris
    Feb 6, 2019 at 7:22
  • @ Kris, Very true about nouns being "verbed" and of course in a creative work, authors may do what they like to try to convey the meaning and emotion of what they're going for. Still, it would be a relatively new/unusual coinage.
    – Katy
    Feb 6, 2019 at 15:08
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Of course it can. See this video at 1:15. Precious few nouns can't be verbed. I've seen it noted that "faith" is one of them. Fascinating, given that "trust" is a common verb.

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    Some problems you just have to faith straight on. :P
    – Lawrence
    Feb 6, 2019 at 6:46

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