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. Cognates include 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.
Meanings
(Canada, US, attributive, not-comparable) At the venue of the opposing team or competitor; on the road.
(not-comparable) Of or pertaining to a road bike.
road groupset
road tires
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
rade
alternative, obsolete
lexicographic
Synonyms
away (at the venue of the opposing team or competitor)
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. Cognates include 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.
Meanings
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.
In the lightness of my heart I sang catches of songs as my horse gayly bore me along the well-remembered road. 1852, Mrs M.A. Thompson, “The Tutor's Daughter”, in Graham's American Monthly Magazine of Literature, Art, and Fashion, page 266:
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. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter I, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
And the road doesn't end / It's a long, long road and we follow it again and again / And the road don't pretend 2018, Bill Wurtz, “Long Long Long Journey”:
(uncountable) Roads in general as a means of travel, especially by motor vehicle.
We travelled to the seaside by road.
This car really hugs the road.
(dated) A physical way or route.
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. 1855 December – 1857 June, Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1857, →OCLC:
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. 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 131:
(figuratively) A path chosen, as in life or career.
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. 2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport:
Where, then, is the road to peace? 1964, Ronald Reagan, A Time for Choosing:
the road to happiness; the road to success.
An underground tunnel in a mine.
(US, archaic) A railroad.
[in 1846 or 1847, Davis K. Carter said,] ["]I have come to deal in practical matters, and to serve notice on you, gentlemen, that we out west, comprising the backbone, not only of Ohio but of the western continent, mean business. A road is to be built from this city [Pittsburgh], through Massillon to Chicago, and in its construction you must either fish or cut bait; now take your choice.["] The Pennsylvania and Ohio railroad was finally begun through the activities of business men from Pennsylvania and Ohio, who attended a great meeting held at Massillon in November, 1847. It was completed as far as Massillon, in 1853. 1926 [1847], Bessie V. R. Skinner, quoting Davis K. Carter, Massillon, Once Upon a Time, Independent Publishing Company, page 27:
(UK, US) A single railroad track (railway track).
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. 1959 November, “L.T. and E.R. developments in East London”, in Trains Illustrated, page 527:
(obsolete) The act of riding on horseback.
(obsolete) A hostile ride against a particular area; a raid.
(plural-normally) A partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor; a roadstead.
Antonio: Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; / For here I read for certain that my ships / Are safely come to road. c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
There delivering their fraught, they went to Scandaroone; rather to view what ships was in the Roade, than any thing else […]. 1630, John Smith, True Travels, Kupperman, published 1988, page 38:
(obsolete) A journey, or stage of a journey.
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; […] 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
A hard, flat pitch, typically favourable for batters.
la iter (a way for travel) · za loh (a way for travel) · iba jalai (a way for travel) · oc rota (a way for travel) · ca carretera (a way for travel) · ak ɛkwan (a way for travel) · ady гъогу (a way for travel) · ast camín (a way for travel) · kw fordh (a way for travel) · th ถนน (a way for travel) · ltg saša (a way for travel) · ota یول (a path in life) · mk пат (a way for travel) · lo ຖນົນ (a way for travel) · ur سَڑَک (a way for travel) · my လမ်း (a way for travel) · tew pʼôe (a way for travel) · av нух (a way for travel) · mk друм (a way for travel) · sco gait (a way for travel) · yi וועג (a way for travel) · om karaa (a way for travel) · cs silnice (a way for travel) · oj miikana (a way for travel) · xto ytār (a way for travel) · pa ਸੜਕ (a way for travel) · fi matkalla (way or route) · tk ýol (a way for travel) · zlw-ocs cěsta (a way for travel) · eve хотаран (a way for travel) · br hent (a way for travel) · sh цѐста (a way for travel) · fi kulkureitti (way or route) · aqc декъӏ (a way for travel) · tg роҳ (a way for travel) · ccc ajtini (a way for travel) · lez рехъ (a way for travel) · nan-hbl 道路 (a way for travel) · kpv туй (a way for travel) · kg nzila (a way for travel) · cmn 道路 (a way for travel) · tl kalsada (a way for travel) · pcc vdonl (a way for travel) · kmr rê (a way for travel) · ps واټ (a way for travel) · rsk драга (a way for travel) · tab рякъ (a way for travel) · km ផ្លូវ (a way for travel) · arz سكّة (a way for travel) · mba dalan (a way for travel) · fy wei (a way for travel) · as ৰাস্তা (a way for travel) · pa ਰਸਤਾ (a way for travel) · grc κέλευθος (a way for travel) · shn တၢင်း (a way for travel) · ln nzelá (a way for travel) · is vegur (a way for travel) · ia strata (a way for travel) · gir xi⁴⁴ (a way for travel) · mn зам харгуй (a way for travel) · fi maantie (a way for travel) · gd slighe (a way for travel) · nrn gøda (a way for travel) · ti መንገዲ (a way for travel) · afb طِريج (a way for travel) · af pad (a way for travel) · cu пѫть (a way for travel) · lt plentas (a way for travel) · pjt iwara (a way for travel) · ist veîa (a way for travel) · ru доро́га (a way for travel) · ny msewu (a way for travel) · sw njia (a way for travel) · ba юл (a way for travel) · lv ceļš (a way for travel) · fo vegur (a way for travel) · eo vojo (a way for travel) · rup drum (a way for travel) · as আলি (a way for travel) · txb ytārye (a way for travel) · ur راسْتَہ (a way for travel) · or ରାସ୍ତା (a way for travel) · bn রাস্তা (a way for travel) · cdo 道 (a way for travel) · srn pasi (a way for travel) · fi matkalla (a path in life) · nds Straat (a way for travel) · mt triq (a way for travel) · roa-tar strade (a way for travel) · hi पथ (a way for travel) · yi טראַקט (a way for travel) · twf pʼį́ęna (a way for travel) · cr meskanaw (a way for travel) · ga bóthar (a way for travel) · iso edhére (a way for travel) · ga slí (a way for travel) · hu út (a way for travel) · ms jalan (a way for travel) · lo ຖະໜົນ (a way for travel) · ckb ڕێگە (a way for travel) · am መንገድ (a way for travel) · luy engila (a way for travel) · sh дру̏м (a way for travel) · be пуць (a way for travel) · ar سِكَّة (a way for travel) · st tsela (a way for travel) · sco road (a way for travel) · lol mboka (a way for travel) · yai рос (a way for travel) · mk улица (a way for travel) · pt estrada (a way for travel) · tn tsela (a way for travel) · sh пу̑т (a way for travel) · et maantee (a way for travel) · ko 길 (a way for travel) · tet lurón (a way for travel) · yue 道路 (a way for travel) · pi patha (a way for travel) · ia via (a way for travel) · ota یول (a way for travel) · lo ຫົນທາງ (a way for travel) · mel jalan (a way for travel) · za roen (a way for travel) · ak kwan (a way for travel) · tt юл (a way for travel) · si පාර (a way for travel) · fr route (a way for travel) · es carretera (a way for travel) · sk cesta (a way for travel) · sq rrugë (a way for travel) · shn သၢႆတၢင်း (a way for travel) · cst 'ín̄u' (a way for travel) · nn veg (a way for travel) · chr ᏅᏃᎯ (a way for travel) · bg път (a way for travel) · khb ᦑᦱᧂ (a way for travel) · rup cali (roa-rup) (a way for travel) · ltg ceļš (a way for travel) · gdq حورم (a way for travel) · dng лўдо (a way for travel) · hi रास्ता (a path in life) · nrn goda (a way for travel) · th ทาง (a way for travel) · shy abrid (a way for travel) · fa-ira جادِه (a way for travel) · sa पथ (a way for travel) · he כְּבִישׁ (a way for travel) · fr chemin (a path in life) · cy ffordd (a way for travel) · vi đường bộ (a way for travel) · fr route (a path in life) · ru путь (a way for travel) · sco gate (a way for travel) · wa voye (a way for travel) · io choseo (a way for travel) · shi aɣaras (a way for travel) · ta சாலை (way or route) · ht wout (a way for travel) · zza sop (a path in life) · mn зам (a way for travel) · cu ⱂⱘⱅⱐ (a way for travel) · ar طَرِيق (a way for travel) · km ថ្នល់ (a way for travel) · ta சாலை (a way for travel) · su jalan (a way for travel) · ang weġ (a way for travel) · wao mícʰ (a way for travel) · el δρόμος (a way for travel) · hu közút (a way for travel) · lkt ocanku (a way for travel) · yap woq (a way for travel) · dsb droga (a way for travel) · lo ທາງ (a way for travel) · ga slí bheatha (a path in life) · pdt Gauss (a way for travel) · mos sore (a way for travel) · bla mohsoko (a way for travel) · ko 도로 (a way for travel) · aa gita (a way for travel) · tpn pé (a way for travel) · as বাট (a path in life) · krl tie (a way for travel) · as বাট (a way for travel) · uk путь (a way for travel) · dng лў (a way for travel) · lv šoseja (a way for travel) · egy wA-A-t:N31 (a way for travel) · ml റോഡ് (a way for travel) · pt caminho (a path in life) · wym wȧg (a way for travel) · bn পথ (a way for travel) · be даро́га (a way for travel) · ne सडक (a way for travel) · otk 𐰖𐰆𐰞 (a way for travel) · mdf ки (a way for travel) · mr रस्ता (a way for travel) · cmn 路 (a way for travel) · sl pot (a way for travel) · nl weg (a way for travel) · cs cesta (a way for travel) · acm درب (a way for travel) · mnc ᠵᡠᡤᡡᠨ (a way for travel) · rif abrid (a way for travel) · uk доро́га (a way for travel) · eo ŝoseo (a way for travel) · af straat (a way for travel) · ill lalan (a way for travel) · st seterata (a way for travel) · hi रास्ता (a way for travel) · ro cale (a way for travel) · yue 路 (a way for travel) · te రోడ్డు (a way for travel) · qu ñan (a way for travel) · fa-ira جادِّه (a way for travel) · bo ལམ (a way for travel) · wuu 道路 (a way for travel) · ary طْريق (a way for travel) · et tee (a way for travel) · sk dráha (a way for travel) · orv дорога (a way for travel) · cu ⱌⱑⱄⱅⰰ (a way for travel) · hil dalan (a way for travel) · tg ҷода (a way for travel) · brg kaye (a way for travel) · ta ரோடு (a way for travel) · nrf route (a way for travel) · xh lendlela (a way for travel) · bni nzela (a way for travel) · pt caminho (a way for travel) · zu umgwaqo (a way for travel) · es camino (a path in life) · clt luopuv (a way for travel) · wuu 路 (a way for travel) · mdh lalan (a way for travel) · sh cèsta (a way for travel) · lt kelias (a way for travel) · hi सड़क (a way for travel) · sh pȗt (a way for travel) · ceb dalan (a way for travel) · gld покто (a way for travel) · zza rah (a way for travel) · gl camiño (a path in life) · zea wegt (a way for travel) · eu errepide (a way for travel) · nan-hbl 路 (a way for travel) · ur جادَہ (a way for travel) · cmn 道 (a way for travel) · it strada (a way for travel) · id jalan (a way for travel) · af weg (a way for travel) · th หนทาง (a way for travel) · sw barabara (a path in life) · gv raad (a way for travel) · te రహదారి (a way for travel) · zea pad (a way for travel) · io voyo (a way for travel) · akl daean (a way for travel) · cmn 馬路 /马路 (a way for travel) · tpn apé (s-) (a way for travel) · ug يول (a way for travel) · tl kalye (a way for travel) · pdt Wajch (a way for travel) · az yol (a way for travel) · ttt ra (a way for travel) · sah суол (a way for travel) · uz yoʻl (a way for travel) · gur sore (a way for travel) · tpi rot (a way for travel) · pim mew (a way for travel) · mww kev (a way for travel) · ky жол (a way for travel) · hi मार्ग (a way for travel) · es calzada (a way for travel) · vi đường (a way for travel) · kmr rêk (a way for travel) · ro drum (a way for travel) · evn хокто (a way for travel) · fa-ira راه (a path in life) · fi tie (a way for travel) · xnb cacaan (a way for travel) · oj miikanan (a way for travel) · pi magga (a way for travel) · eu bide (a way for travel) · apw ʼintin (a way for travel) · rap ara (a way for travel) · sne oran (a way for travel) · ms jalan (a path in life) · acw طَريق (a way for travel) · crh yol (a way for travel) · niv тиф (a way for travel) · fa-ira راه (a way for travel) · ka გზა (a way for travel) · gl estrada (a way for travel) · rue доро́га (a way for travel) · mn гудамж (a way for travel) · ket ӄоʼт (a way for travel) · sh drȕm (a way for travel) · gu માર્ગ (a way for travel) · be шлях (a way for travel) · hsb dróha (a way for travel) · pl szosa (a way for travel) · tly ro (a way for travel) · de Straße (a way for travel) · kk жол (a way for travel) · mi rori (a way for travel) · sv väg (a way for travel) · nb vei (a way for travel) · myv ки (a way for travel) · gd rathad (a way for travel) · kn ರಸ್ತೆ (a way for travel) · syl ꠙꠕ (a way for travel) · tl daan (a way for travel) · aii ܐܘܼܪܚܵܐ (a way for travel) · ta தெரு (a way for travel) · uk шлях (a way for travel) · ce некъ (a way for travel) · ru путь (a path in life) · ln balabala (a way for travel) · ja 道路 (a way for travel) · orv путь (a way for travel) · mrw lalan (a way for travel) · tr yol (a path in life) · nah ohtli (a way for travel) · cdo 路 (a way for travel) · syl ꠞꠣꠍ꠆ꠔꠣ (a way for travel) · cdo 墿 /𰉣 (a way for travel) · hy ճամփա (a way for travel) · sq udhë (a way for travel) · cu цѣста (a way for travel) · sa मार्ग (a way for travel) · tr yol (a way for travel) · ain ル (a way for travel) · sl cesta (a way for travel) · rup susachi (a way for travel) · ca camí (a path in life) · hy ճանապարհ (a way for travel) · csb darga (a way for travel) · grc ὁδός (a way for travel) · pt via (a way for travel) · mnc ᠣᠨ (a way for travel) · bn সড়ক (a way for travel) · ja 道 (a way for travel) · nay yarluke (a way for travel) · bo ལམ་ཀ (a way for travel) · la via (a way for travel) · zai neza (a way for travel) · zza ray (a way for travel) · da vej (a way for travel) · se geaidnu (a way for travel) · rom drom (a way for travel) · tyv орук (a way for travel) · pl ulica (a way for travel) · pl droga (a way for travel) · mnp 墿 /𰉣 (a way for travel) · zdj pare (a way for travel) · fi tie (a path in life) · ln mofali (a way for travel)