straddle

IPA: strˈædʌɫ

A posture in which one straddles something.
(military) A pair or salvo of successive artillery shots falling both in front of and behind a target.
(finance) An investment strategy involving simultaneous trade with put and call options on the same security at the same strike price, giving a non-directional position sensitive to volatility.
(poker) A voluntary raise made prior to receiving cards by the first player after the blinds.
(mining) A vertical mine-timber supporting a set.
A part of a harness placed on the back of a beast of burden (such as a horse or donkey) to carry the weight of a load.

(transitive) To sit or stand with a leg on each side of something; to sit astride.
(transitive) To be on both sides of something; to have parts that are in different places, regions, etc.
(transitive) To consider or favor two apparently opposite sides; to be noncommittal.
(transitive) To form a disorderly sprawl; to spread out irregularly.
(military) To fire successive artillery shots in front of and behind of a target, especially in order to determine its range (the term "bracket" is often used instead).
(poker) To place a voluntary raise prior to receiving cards (only by the first player after the blinds).
(intransitive) To stand with the ends staggered; said of the spokes of a wagon wheel where they join the hub.
(economy) To execute a commodities market spread.

Examples of "straddle" in Sentences

The cowboy expertly straddled his horse, preparing for a long day of herding cattle
As she tried to straddle the line between work and personal life, she found it increasingly difficult to find balance
The gymnast performed a flawless straddle split during her routine, impressing the judges with her flexibility
The politician tried to straddle the fence on the controversial issue, refusing to take a firm stance either way
He attempted to straddle two different cultures, blending aspects of both into his own unique identity