road — English Dictionary

road
Pronunciations (7)
  • /ɾoːɖ/
    Pronunciation notes
    • South-Asia
  • /rod/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Scotland
  • /ɹod/
    Pronunciation notes
    • General-American
  • /ɹəʊd/
  • /ɹoʊd/
  • ɹəʊd
    Pronunciation notes
    • GB
  • ɹoʊd
    Pronunciation notes
    • US

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.

    Examples

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

    More examples (1)

    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.

    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

  2. Roads in general as a means of travel, especially by motor vehicle.

    Usage
    • Uncountable
    Examples

    We travelled to the seaside by road.

    This car really hugs the road.

  3. A physical way or route.

    Usage
    • Dated
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    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.

  4. A path chosen, as in life or career.

    Usage
    • Figurative
    Examples

    the road to happiness; the road to success.

    Where, then, is the road to peace?

    More examples (1)

    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.

  5. An underground tunnel in a mine.

  6. A railroad.

    Usage
    • US usage
    • Archaic
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    [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.

  7. A single railroad track (railway track).

    Usage
    • UK usage
    • US usage
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    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.

  8. The act of riding on horseback.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
  9. A hostile ride against a particular area; a raid.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
  10. A partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor; a roadstead.

    Usage
    • plural-normally
    Examples

    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 […].

  11. A journey, or stage of a journey.

    Usage
    • Obsolete
    Examples

    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; […]

  12. A hard, flat pitch, typically favourable for batters.

Adjective

  1. At the venue of the opposing team or competitor; on the road.

    Usage
    • Canada
    • US usage
    • attributive
    • not-comparable
  2. Of or pertaining to a road bike.

    Usage
    • not-comparable
    Examples

    road tires

    road groupset

Noun

  1. an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
  2. a way or means to achieve something

    Broader terms
    Examples

    the road to fame

Word forms
roadsrade

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