tailgates

Noun

tailgate (plural tailgates)

1. A hinged board or hatch at the rear of a vehicle that can be lowered for loading and unloading.
   • Drop the tailgate, please, and I'll load these pallets.

   Synonyms:

   tailboard

2. (UK, especially) The hinged rear door of a hatchback.
   • Open up the tailgate, please, and retrieve her suitcases.

   Synonyms:

   hatch

3. The downstream gate in the lock on a canal or river, or in an irrigation system.
   • The locktender closed the tailgate and the chamber started to fill.

   Antonyms:

   headgate

4. A tunnel for drawing spent air away from the working face of a mine.

See all 9 meanings of tailgate