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tread
[ tred ]
verb (used without object)
- to set down the foot or feet in walking; step; walk.
- to step, walk, or trample so as to press, crush, or injure something (usually followed by on or upon ):
to tread on a person's foot.
- (of a male bird) to copulate.
verb (used with object)
- to step or walk on, about, in, or along.
- to trample or crush underfoot.
- to form by the action of walking or trampling:
to tread a path.
- to treat with disdainful harshness or cruelty; crush; oppress.
- to perform by walking or dancing:
to tread a measure.
- (of a male bird) to copulate with (a female bird).
noun
- the action of treading, stepping, or walking.
- the sound of footsteps.
- manner of treading or walking.
- a single step as in walking.
- any of various things or parts on which a person or thing treads, stands, or moves.
- the part of the under surface of the foot or of a shoe that touches the ground.
- the horizontal upper surface of a step in a stair, on which the foot is placed.
- the part of a wheel, tire, or runner that bears on the road, rail, etc.
- the pattern raised on or cut into the face of a rubber tire.
- Also caterpillar tread. a metal tread on which a Caterpillar-style vehicle moves.
- Railroads. that part of a rail in contact with the treads of wheels.
tread
/ ٰɛ /
verb
- to walk or trample in, on, over, or across (something)
- whenintr, foll by on to crush or squash by or as if by treading
to tread on a spider
to tread grapes
- intrsometimes foll byon to subdue or repress, as by doing injury (to)
to tread on one's inferiors
- tr to do by walking or dancing
to tread a measure
- tr (of a male bird) to copulate with (a female bird)
- tread lightlyto proceed with delicacy or tact
- tread on someone's toesto offend or insult someone, esp by infringing on his sphere of action, etc
- tread waterto stay afloat in an upright position by moving the legs in a walking motion
noun
- a manner or style of walking, dancing, etc
a light tread
- the act of treading
- the top surface of a step in a staircase
- the outer part of a tyre or wheel that makes contact with the road, esp the grooved surface of a pneumatic tyre
- the part of a rail that wheels touch
- the part of a shoe that is generally in contact with the ground
- vet science an injury to a horse's foot caused by the opposite foot, or the foot of another horse
- a rare word for footprint
Derived Forms
- ˈٰ, noun
Other Word Forms
- ٰ· noun
- ··ٰ noun
- ܲ·ٰ noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of tread1
Word History and Origins
Origin of tread1
Idioms and Phrases
- tread on someone's toes / corns, to offend or irritate someone.
- tread the boards, to act on the stage, especially professionally:
He recalled the days when he had trod the boards.
- tread water,
- Swimming. to maintain the body erect in the water with the head above the surface usually by a pumping up-and-down movement of the legs and sometimes the arms.
- Slang. to make efforts that maintain but do not further one's status, progress, or performance:
He's just treading water here until he can find another job.
- tread lightly / carefully / softly. tread lightly.
More idioms and phrases containing tread
- fools rush in where angels fear to tread
- step (tread) on one's toes
Example Sentences
"But we're just treading water and seeing if things get better from here."
"We will reach net zero in a way that treads lightly on people's lives, not telling them how to live or behave," said the prime minister's official spokesman.
Would Liverpool tread water or even go backwards for a season or two while his successor settled into the job?
Another official said: "It's a funeral. We are treading carefully."
Just tread lightly if you’re feeding a crowd—spice tolerance can vary wildly.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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