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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

tread en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English treden, from Old English tredan, from Proto-West Germanic *tredan, from Proto-Germanic *trudaną.

Meanings

  1. (intransitive) To step or walk (on or across something); to trample.
    • yee that walk The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:
    • And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet haue troden, shall be thine inheritance, and thy childrens for euer, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Joshua 14:9:
    • Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. 1711, Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, part III:
    • He trod back and forth wearily.
    • Don't tread on the lawn.
  2. (transitive) To step or walk upon.
    • Actors tread the boards.
  3. (figuratively, with certain adverbs of manner) To proceed, to behave (in a certain manner).
    • to tread carefully, to tread cautiously, to tread warily
    • to tread lightly, to tread gently
  4. To beat or press with the feet.
    • to tread a path; to tread land when too light; a well-trodden path
  5. To work a lever, treadle, etc., with the foot or the feet.
    • Round about them was a circle of girls and wives of the neighbouring tenants; "they trod the spinning-wheels with diligent feet, or were using the scraping carding-combs," as an author has it. 1886, Peter Christen Asbjø￵rnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 251:
  6. To go through or accomplish by walking, dancing, etc.
    • They have measured many a mile, / To tread a measure with you on this grass. c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
    • I am resolved to forsake Malta, tread a pilgrimage to fair Jerusalem. 1616–1619 (first performance), John Fletcher, Philip Massinger, Nathan Field, “The Knight of Malta”, in Comedies and Tragedies […], London: […] Humphrey Robinson, […], and for Humphrey Moseley […], published 1647, →OCLC, Act V, scene ii:
  7. To crush under the foot; to trample in contempt or hatred; to subdue; to repress.
    • Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 44:5:
  8. (intransitive) To copulate; said of (especially male) birds.
    • When Turtles tread, and Rookes and Dawes, And Maidens bleach their summer smockes: c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene ii]:
  9. (of a male bird, transitive) To copulate with (a hen).
    • But if a child sees a cockerel tread a hen, or two dogs coupling, well and good. It should see these things. 1923, D. H. Lawrence, Fantasia of the Unconscious:
    • This bird used to try to tread her fellow-hens. 1927, Havelock Ellis, Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 2 (of 6):
  10. (transitive) To crush grapes with one's feet to make wine

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
treads Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
treading Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
trodden Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
treaded Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
treaded Tense=Past lexicographic
tread Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
tread Tense=Past lexicographic
treade alternative, obsolete lexicographic
trod Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
trod Tense=Past lexicographic

Deriveds

tread on eggshells · treadboard · upon · tread out · tread carefully · treader · downtread · retread · tread water · betread · treadwheel · untrod · treadwear · fortread · treadmill · Treadwell · fools rush in where angels fear to tread · totread · tread on someone's corns · treadless · have the black ox tread on one's foot · treadable · downtrodden · don't tread on me · treadplate · tread-softly · tread down · tread on · tread-lightly · tread softly · midtread · tread the stage · treadle · tread a measure · toes · tread the boards · untread · tread in someone'ssteps · tread lightly · as ever trod shoe-leather

Relateds

trade

Synonyms

step on · stomp

Translations (116)

gl tripar (to step on) · cmn 踏 (to step on) · de trampeln (to step on) · de freitreten (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · pt espezinhar (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · fi talloa (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · sq shkelmoj (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · it calcare (to step on) · ota آیاقلامق (to step on) · pt pisar (to step on) · gl trepar (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · cs pošlapat (to step on) · yi טרעטן (to step on) · fr marcher sur (to step on) · uk наступи́ти (to step on) · io fular (to step on) · de austreten (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · es apisonar (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · ar دَعَسَ (to step on) · ota آیاقلامق (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · nl vertrappen (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · gl pisar (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · pl nastąpić (to step on) · cs dusat (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · cmn 踏踩 (to step on) · fi astua (to step on) · de stapfen (to step on) · ja 踏む (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · oc calcar (to step on) · de stampfen (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · qu sarui (to step on) · cs šlápnout (to step on) · ca trepitjar (to step on) · it pestare (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · oc artelhar (to step on) · got 𐍄𐍂𐌿𐌳𐌰𐌽 (to step on) · qu harui (to step on) · hy կոխել (to step on) · pl podeptać (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · xbr liti (to step on) · uk наступа́ти (to step on) · vi giẫm (to step on) · nl betreden (to step on) · bg утъпквам (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · gl pisar (to step on) · ota طبانلامق (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · pl deptać (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · cmn 踐踏 /践踏 (to step on) · de feststampfen (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · nn trå (to step on) · qu saruy (to step on) · gl trepar (to step on) · yi באַטרעטן (to step on) · lt užminti (to step on) · pl nadepnąć (to step on) · nl stampen (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · da træde (to step on) · rup calcu (to step on) · es pisar (to step on) · ro călca (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · ru наступи́ть (to step on) · it calpestare (to step on) · de betreten (to step on) · ru наступа́ть (to step on) · oc caucar (to step on) · bg стъпквам (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · ru топтать (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · th เหยียบ (to step on) · nn trø (to step on) · de treten (to step on) · lt mindyti (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · de treten (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · ar دَهَسَ (to step on) · pl zdeptać (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · de trampeln (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · bg стъ́пвам (to step on) · sq shkel (to step on) · ota چیكنهمك (to step on) · pl stąpać (to step on) · ota چیكنهمك (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · oc calcigar (to step on) · ar وَطِئَ (to step on) · es zapatear (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · de begehen (to step on) · it pigiare (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · it pestare (to step on) · eo treti (to step on) · fa لگد کردن (to step on) · ar خَطَا (to step on) · ja 踏む (to step on) · ro călca (to step on) · cs zašlapat (to step on) · lt mindžioti (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · cs udusat (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · cmn 踩 (to step on) · fr piétiner (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · fa پا گذاشتن (to step on) · nb trå (to step on) · as গচকা (to step on) · ota طبانلامق (to step on) · lt minti (to step on) · fr fouler (to step on) · ar دَاسَ (to step on) · oc caucigar (to step on) · es hollar (to step on) · es pisotear (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · fi käydä (to step on) · ttj -rubata (to step on) · cs stoupnout (to step on) · it calpestare (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · ko 디디다 (to step on) · gl tripar (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · de festtreten (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · es patullar (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · fr fouler (to beat with one's feet; to trample) · de auftreten (to step on)

tread en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Middle English tred, from treden (“to tread”).

Meanings

  1. A step taken with the foot.
  2. A manner of stepping.
    • She is coming, my own, my sweet; / Were it ever so airy a tread, / My heart would hear her and beat. 1855, Alfred Tennyson, “(please specify the page)”, in Maud, and Other Poems, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
  3. The sound made when someone or something is walking.
    • As we stood waiting for the departure time with the setting sun twinkling on the great brass dome of our 2-4-0, the sound of church bells was the only one apart from the measured tread of the guard slowly pacing towards his van, and, standing at an open window, I more than once heard the fireman's "Right away!" to his mate in acknowledgement of a desultory wave of the unfurled green flag. 1955 January, R. S. McNaught, “From the Severn to the Mersey by Great Western”, in Railway Magazine, page 19:
    • But when, after a singularly heavy tread and the jingle of spurs on the platform, the door flew open to the newcomer, he seemed a realization of our worst expectations. 1896, Bret Harte, Barker's Luck and Other Stories:
    • The steps fell lightly and oddly, with a certain swing, for all they went so slowly; it was different indeed from the heavy creaking tread of Henry Jekyll. Utterson sighed. "Is there never anything else?" he asked. 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde:
  4. (obsolete) A way; a track or path.
    • And the queint Mazes in the wanton greene, For lacke of tread are vndistinguishable. c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “A Midsommer Nights Dreame”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
  5. A walking surface in a stairway on which the foot is placed.
    • The dog was waiting for him, her paws on the second tread, pere regardant with a happy lolling tongue. 1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 25:
  6. The grooves carved into the face of a tire, used to give the tire traction.
  7. The grooves on the bottom of a shoe or other footwear, used to give grip or traction.
  8. The chalaza of a bird's egg; the treadle.
  9. The act of avian copulation in which the male bird mounts the female by standing on her back.
  10. The top of the banquette, on which soldiers stand to fire over the parapet.
  11. A bruise or abrasion produced on the foot or ankle of a horse that interferes, or strikes its feet together.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
treads Number=Plur lexicographic
treade alternative, obsolete lexicographic

Antonyms

riser (antonym(s) of “horizontal part of a step”) · rise (antonym(s) of “horizontal part of a step”)

Deriveds

retread

Synonyms

run (horizontal part of a step)

Translations (72)

cs stupnice (horizontal part of a step) · sq lule (grooves in tire) · cs stupeň (horizontal part of a step) · de Schritt (horizontal part of a step) · ca banda de rodament (grooves in tire) · cs krok (step) · de Sohlenprofil (grooves in a sole) · sq shkalla (horizontal part of a step) · de Tritt (step) · es pisada (step) · pl krok (step) · ro pas (step) · mi teka (horizontal part of a step) · bg стъпка (step) · ja 残溝 (grooves in tire) · gl paso (step) · ja 溝 (grooves in tire) · fi uritus (grooves in tire) · ja タイヤ溝 (grooves in tire) · ja 段 (horizontal part of a step) · es cocada (grooves in tire) · ru протектор (grooves in tire) · de Tritt (horizontal part of a step) · cy sang (step) · fi askelten ääni (sound made when someone or something is walking) · ota باصامق (horizontal part of a step) · ga trácht (grooves in tire) · de Auftritt (horizontal part of a step) · fi astunta (manner of stepping) · de Stufe (horizontal part of a step) · ja 接地面 (grooves in tire) · fi askellus (manner of stepping) · pl bieżnik (grooves in a sole) · fr marche (horizontal part of a step) · cy gwadn (grooves in tire) · ca dibuix (grooves in a sole) · ca trepitjada (step) · fi kulutuspinta (grooves in tire) · fi askelet (sound made when someone or something is walking) · de Profil (grooves in a sole) · es banda de rodamiento (grooves in tire) · de Profil (grooves in tire) · mi kaupae (horizontal part of a step) · gl paso (horizontal part of a step) · oc benda de rodament (grooves in tire) · fi askelma (horizontal part of a step) · pl bieżnik (grooves in tire) · fi urat (grooves in a sole) · es dibujo (grooves in a sole) · es cubierta (grooves in tire) · fi polku (way, track, path) · de Trittstufe (horizontal part of a step) · de Trittbrett (horizontal part of a step) · oc benda de rotlament (grooves in tire) · es dibujo (grooves in tire) · fa آج (grooves in tire) · bg профил (grooves in tire) · ja 溝 (grooves in a sole) · de Schritt (step) · es banda de rodadura (grooves in tire) · ja 踏み面 (horizontal part of a step) · de Stufe (step) · de Trittfläche (horizontal part of a step) · fi urat (grooves in tire) · sq hap (step) · fi askel (step) · sq ecur (manner of stepping) · es caucho (grooves in tire) · de Lauffläche (horizontal part of a step) · fi uritus (grooves in a sole) · fr bande de roulement (grooves in tire) · it battistrada (grooves in tire)