English
road
Pronunciation Noun

road (plural roads)

  1. (obsolete) The act of riding on horseback. [9th-17th c.]
  2. (obsolete) A hostile ride against a particular area; a raid. [9th-19th c.]
    • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, VI.8:
      There dwelt a salvage nation, which did live / Of stealth and spoile, and making nightly rode / Into their neighbours borders […].
  3. (nautical, often, in the plural) A partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor; a roadstead. [from 14th c.]
    • circa 1596-97 William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act V scene i:
      smallcaps Antonio: Sweet lady, you have given me life and living; / For here I read for certain that my ships / Are safely come to road.
    • 1630, John Smith (explorer), True Travels, in Kupperman 1988, page 38:
      There delivering their fraught, they went to Scandaroone; rather to view what ships was in the Roade, than any thing else […].
  4. 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. [from 16th c.]
  5. (figuratively) A path chosen in life or career. [from 17th c.]
    • 1964, Ronald Reagan: A Time for Choosing
      Where, then, is the road to peace?
  6. An underground tunnel in a mine. [from 18th c.]
  7. (US, railroads) A railway or (UK, railroads) a single railway track. [from 19th c.]
  8. (obsolete) A journey, or stage of a journey.
    • circa 1613 William Shakespeare, Henry VIII (play), Act IV scene ii:
      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; […]
  9. A way or route.
    • , Little Dorrit
      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.
Translations Translations Adjective

road (not comparable)

  1. (US, Canada, sports, chiefly, attributive) At the venue of the opposing team or competitor; on the road.
Synonyms
  • (at the venue of the opposing team or competitor) away (UK)


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