Word definition: road

Etimology


From Middle English rode, rade (“ride, journey”), from Old English rād (“riding, hostile incursion”), from Proto-West Germanic *raidu, from Proto-Germanic *raidō (“a ride”), from Proto-Indo-European *reydʰ- (“to ride”). Doublet of raid, acquired from Scots, and West Frisian reed (paved trail/road, driveway). The current primary meaning of "street, way for traveling" originated relatively late—Shakespeare seemed to expect his audiences to find it unfamiliar—and probably arose through reinterpretation of roadway "a way for riding on" as saying "way" twice, in other words as a tautological compound.

noun


road (plural roads)

A way used for travelling between places, originally one wide enough to allow foot passengers and horses to travel, now (US) usually one surfaced with asphalt or concrete and designed to accommodate many vehicles travelling in both directions. In the UK both senses are heard: a country road is the same as a country lane. [from 16th c.]

(uncountable) Roads in general as a means of travel, especially by motor vehicle.

(dated) A physical way or route.

(figuratively) A path chosen, as in life or career. [from 17th c.]

An underground tunnel in a mine. [from 18th c.]

(US, rail transport) A railway or (UK, rail transport) a single railway track. [from 19th c.]

(obsolete) The act of riding on horseback. [9th–17th c.]

(obsolete) A hostile ride against a particular area; a raid. [9th–19th c.]

(nautical, often in the plural) A partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor; a roadstead. [from 14th c.]

(obsolete) A journey, or stage of a journey.

Examples


In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road.

I stumbled along through the young pines and huckleberry bushes. Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path that, I cal'lated, might lead to the road I was hunting for.

We travelled to the seaside by road.

He stirred up his hair with his sprightliest expression, glanced at the little figure again, said ‘Good evening, ma ‘am; don’t come down, Mrs Affery, I know the road to the door,’ and steamed out.

Hetty and Mrs. Piper watched them with a lynx-eyed understanding and before the ancient was well upon his road his way was blocked by Hetty.

the road to happiness; the road to success.

Where, then, is the road to peace?

Hodgson may actually feel England could have scored even more but this was the perfect first step on the road to Rio in 2014 and the ideal platform for the second qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley on Tuesday.

The new depot, on which work started in May, 1956, has three reception roads leading to 13 sidings capable of taking 25 trains, a 450 ft.-long car examination shed with nine roads, a lifting shop with two roads and three permanent way sidings.

Antonio: Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; / For here I read for certain that my ships / Are safely come to road.

There delivering their fraught, they went to Scandaroone; rather to view what ships was in the Roade, than any thing else […].

At last, with easy roads, he came to Leicester; / Lodg'd in the abbey, where the reverend abbot, / With all his convent, honourably receiv'd him; […]

Related words


hyponyms

See also Thesaurus:road

adjective


road (not comparable)

(US, Canada, sports, chiefly attributive) At the venue of the opposing team or competitor; on the road.

(cycling) Of or pertaining to a road bike.

Examples


road tires

road groupset

Related words


synonyms

(at the venue of the opposing team or competitor): away (UK)

Data provided by Wiktionary