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road

Pronunciation: /ɾoːɖ/

The English word “road” has 14 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. 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.
  2. Roads in general as a means of travel, especially by motor vehicle.
  3. A physical way or route.
  4. A path chosen, as in life or career.
  5. An underground tunnel in a mine.
  6. A railroad.
  7. A single railroad track (railway track).
  8. The act of riding on horseback.
  9. A hostile ride against a particular area; a raid.
  10. A partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor; a roadstead.
  11. A journey, or stage of a journey.
  12. A hard, flat pitch, typically favourable for batters.

adjective

  1. At the venue of the opposing team or competitor; on the road.
  2. Of or pertaining to a road bike.

Etymology

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…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.