tread

tread [tred]

vt.

TROD or (in tread water: see phr. below) treaded, trodden or trod or (in tread water) treaded, treading, trod [ME treden < OE tredan, akin to Ger treten < IE * dreu- < base * drā, to run, step > TRAP¹]

1. to walk on, in, along, across, over, etc.

2. to do or follow by walking, dancing, etc. [treading the measures briskly]

3. to press or beat with the feet so as to crush or injure; trample

4. to oppress or subdue, as if by stepping on

5. to copulate with (the female): said of a bird

vi.

1. to move on foot; step; walk

2. to set one's foot (on, across, etc.); make a step; step

3. to trample (on or upon)

4. to copulate: said of birds

n.

1. the act, manner, or sound of treading

2. something on which a person or thing treads or moves, as the part of a shoe sole, wheel, etc. that touches the ground, the endless belt over cogged wheels of a tractor or tank, the part of a rail on which a car wheel runs, or the horizontal surface of a step in a stairway: see STAIRCASE

3.

a) the thick outer layer of an automotive tire, containing grooves for added traction

b) the thickness of this layer, as measured by the depth of the grooves

c) the pattern of the grooves

4. TRACK (n. 9)

5. Rare a footprint

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tread the boards

to act in plays on the stage

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tread water pt. & pp. now usually TREADED

1. Swimming to keep the head above water and the body upright without propelling oneself forward, by moving the legs and arms back and forth

2. to make no progress