tread

1 of 2

verb

trod ˈträd How to pronounce tread (audio) also treaded; trodden ˈträ-dᵊn How to pronounce tread (audio) or trod; treading

transitive verb

1
a
: to step or walk on or over
b
: to walk or proceed along : follow
treading a fine line between tradition and innovation
2
a
: to form by treading : beat
tread a path
b
: to execute by stepping or dancing
tread a measure
3
a
: to beat or press with the feet : trample
b
: to subdue or repress as if by trampling : crush
4
: to copulate with
used of a male bird

intransitive verb

1
: to move or proceed on or as if on foot
must tread lightly
2
a
: to set foot
has gone where others fear to tread
b
: to put one's foot : step
carelessly treading on the flowers
3
treader noun

tread

2 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail
(2)
: the pattern of ridges or grooves made or cut in the face of a tire
b
: the part of a shoe or boot sole that touches the ground
also : the pattern on the bottom of a sole
2
a
: the upper horizontal part of a step
b
: the width of such a tread
3
a
: manner of stepping
b
: the sound of treading
c(1)
: the action of treading
(2)
: an act or instance of treading : step
4
: a mark (something, such as a footprint or the imprint of a tire) made by or as if by treading
5
: the distance between the points of contact with the ground of the two front wheels or the two rear wheels of a vehicle
treadless adjective
Phrases
tread on one's toes
: to give offense (as by encroaching on one's rights or feelings)
tread water
: to keep the body nearly upright in the water and the head above water by a treading motion of the feet usually aided by the hands

Examples of tread in a Sentence

Verb They slowly trod back to the camp. Don't tread on the grass. treading the halls of the Senate Countless footsteps have trodden a path to their door. Noun The treads of the tires were badly worn. running shoes with good treads
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Tuesday's comments, however, treaded into the political sphere as Wray warned against the politicization of the FBI and democratic institutions. Robert Legare, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2024 To find this evidence, Curiosity and Perseverance are treading very different paths on Mars, more than 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from each other. Amy J. Williams, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2024 Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, seems to be treading that path. Lawrence Ulrich, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2024 Others have tread similar terrain as the cost of sports rights increases. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 District attorneys are treading cautiously and so far have filed only a handful of cases — even as some of these counties record hundreds of overdose deaths each year. Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Ukraine and its allies are watching cautiously and treading carefully. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Parents should tread carefully here — there are fewer safety nets in place for parental loans, which can quickly spiral out of control. The New York Times, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2024 In our view, Boeing needs to tread carefully and cautiously through this potential reputational minefield. Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2024
Noun
Debris on the ground is always a concern for carriers and airports because everything from rocks and loose bits of pavement to excessive rubber build-up can accelerate tread deterioration. Ryan Erik King / Jalopnik, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 Make sure your car is ready by checking the following: Tires should have good tread and be properly inflated. Kinsey Crowley, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 Since the dual rear treads can’t be angled, the SnowKart turns like a military tank or tractor, via differences in speed between the treads: Just squeeze the brake lever to hang a left, and the opposite lever for a right-hander. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Feb. 2024 Power runs through an aluminum drive unit—machined with computer precision—wrapped in snowmobile-style rubber treads reinforced with Kevlar. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Feb. 2024 The winter-specific tread is designed to provide secure grip on ice and snow, and the rubber won’t stiffen and freeze in frigid temperatures. Maggie Slepian, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2024 There was junk science—about teeth marks, and tire treads. Seyward Darby, Longreads, 10 Jan. 2024 Sports Kyle Larson hoping to get the jump on weather and rivals in the Daytona 500 Feb. 17, 2024 Even though the rain at Daytona was not heavy at times, there is no way cars at the 2.5-mile superspeedway can run because there is no tread on the tires, making racing a severe safety risk. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2024 The shoe has heavier tread and a hard rubber sole that grips better than a regular running shoe. Maria L. La Ganga, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tread.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English treden, from Old English tredan; akin to Old High German tretan to tread

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Time Traveler
The first known use of tread was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near tread

Cite this Entry

“Tread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tread. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tread

1 of 2 verb
trod ˈträd How to pronounce tread (audio) ; trodden ˈträd-ᵊn How to pronounce tread (audio) or trod; treading
1
a
: to step or walk on or over
b
: to walk along : follow
2
: to beat or press with the feet : trample
3
a
: to form by treading : beat
tread a path
b
: to perform by stepping or dancing
tread a measure
treader noun

tread

2 of 2 noun
1
: a mark made by or as if by treading
2
: the action, manner, or sound of treading or stepping
3
a
: the part of a sole that touches the ground
b
: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail
especially : the ridges or grooves on the surface of a tire
4
: the horizontal part of a step

More from Merriam-Webster on tread

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