to press or beat with the feet so as to crush or injure; trample
4.
to oppress or subdue, as if by stepping on
5.
to copulate with (the female)
said of a bird
verb intransitive
6.
to move on foot; step; walk
7.
to set one's foot (on, across, etc.); make a step; step
8.
to trample (on or upon)
9.
to copulate
said of birds
noun
10.
the act, manner, or sound of treading
11.
something on which a person or thing treads or moves, as the part of a shoe sole, wheel, etc. that touches the ground, the endless belt over cogged wheels of a tractor or tank, the part of a rail on which a car wheel runs, or the horizontal surface of a step in a stairway
12.
a.
the thick outer layer of an automotive tire, containing grooves for added traction
b.
the thickness of this layer, as measured by the depth of the grooves
c.
the pattern of the grooves
13.
track (sense 9)
14. Rare
a footprint
Idioms:
tread the boards
tread water
Word origin
ME treden < OE tredan, akin to Ger treten < IE *dreu- < base *drā, to run, step > trap1
tread in Automotive Engineering
(trɛd) or track
noun
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
Tread in a vehicle is the distance between the left and right side wheels on the same axle.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ depth~ width
The wheel house openings of the car body were big enough to accommodate this tread increase without body changes.
Tread width on the front axle was adjustable from 48 to 80 inches.
Tread of a vehicle is the distance perpendicular to the direction of travel between frontwheels, or between rear wheels.
More idioms containing
tread
fools rush in where angels fear to tread
tread water
Examples of 'tread' in a sentence
tread
We are very careful not to tread on other orchestras' toes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It echoes something more widespread which is (tread carefully now!
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Warning: tread carefully or you might just wake up something hidden in the trees!
The Sun (2016)
None will have a track record, so tread carefully.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Mrs May will have to tread carefully here.
The Sun (2017)
Investors will need to tread carefully, at least to begin with.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You just tread very carefully.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Under the law, charities tread a fine line when seeking to secure or oppose a change in government policy, which in this case supports fracking.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
I HAVE trodden the boards in the criminal courts for a number of years.
The Sun (2016)
His tread was heavy as if he almost forced his feet to take the steps.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
You will of course have to be careful where you tread when you are picking them.
Kitto, Dick Planning the Organic Vegetable Garden (1986)
He is beginning to tread very thin ice and pushing his luck.
The Sun (2008)
They also have a different tread pattern to bite into the snow better.
The Sun (2015)
Walk carefully on the grass to avoid treading on nests.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The best performers will then get to tread the boards in a top show.
The Sun (2009)
This suggests the need to tread carefully.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
His way is the seasonally trodden way.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
But the balding boss pathetically tried to claim to cops that we trod on his foot.
The Sun (2009)
Those treading the path must feel their efforts may be rewarded.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We tread a fine line between gritty realism and poetic touches.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Champions do not tread a lonely road.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We should tread this unforgiving ground with great care.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The council must now tread carefully.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Did we need quite so much of a heavy tread, launching the second movement?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The irony is that players new to artificial surfaces tread as gingerly on them as if they were trotting on greasy or icy grass.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
So, rapid acceleration and braking along with enthusiastic cornering will all scrub more rubber from the tread than unhurried progress.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was in a way a kind of dance, each intent on her own orbit while treading an identical measure.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
That will involve him smiling when I approach rather than looking as though one of us has trodden in something rather disgusting.
The Sun (2008)
In other languages
tread
British English: tread /trɛd/ VERB
stand If you tread on something, you put your foot on it when you are walking or standing.
Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to tread on your foot.
American English: step
Arabic: يَدوسُ
Brazilian Portuguese: pisar
Chinese: 踩踏
Croatian: gaziti
Czech: šlápnout na něco
Danish: træde
Dutch: treden
European Spanish: pisar
Finnish: astua
French: piétiner
German: treten
Greek: βαδίζω
Italian: camminare
Japanese: 踏む
Korean: 밟다
Norwegian: tråkke
Polish: kroczyć
European Portuguese: pisar
Romanian: a călca
Russian: ступать
Latin American Spanish: pisar
Swedish: trampa
Thai: เหยียบ
Turkish: basmak ayak
Ukrainian: наступати
Vietnamese: giẫm lên
British English: tread NOUN
The tread of a tyre or shoe is the pattern of thin lines cut into its surface that stops it slipping.
The fat, broad tyres had a good depth of tread.
American English: tread
Brazilian Portuguese: sulco
Chinese: > 花纹鞋底或轮胎上的
European Spanish: dibujo
French: bande de roulementN
German: Profil
Italian: battistradadi pneumatico
Japanese: 溝形模様
Korean: > 접지 면타이어 등의
European Portuguese: sulco
Latin American Spanish: dibujo
British English: tread VERB
behave cautiously If you tread carefully, you behave in a careful or cautious way.
If you are hoping to form a new relationship tread carefully and slowly to begin with.
American English: tread
Brazilian Portuguese: pisar
Chinese: > 小心应对鞋底或轮胎上的
European Spanish: comportarse
French: avancer
German: gehen
Italian: procedere
Japanese: 振舞う
Korean: 조심스럽게 움직이다
European Portuguese: pisar
Latin American Spanish: comportarse
All related terms of 'tread'
re-tread
to tread or walk over (one's steps ) again
tread water
If someone who is in deep water treads water , they float in an upright position by moving their legs slightly .
tread lightly
to proceed with delicacy or tact
tread pattern
the pattern of grooves on a rubber tyre
tread a path
If you tread a particular path , you take a particular course of action or do something in a particular way.
tread a measure
to dance
tread the boards
to act in plays on the stage
tread under foot
to oppress
tread on someone's corns
to offend or hurt someone by touching on a sensitive subject or encroaching on his or her privileges
tread on someone's toes
to offend or insult someone, esp by trespassing on his or her field of responsibility
to tread on someone's toes
If you tread on someone's toes , you offend them by criticizing the way that they do something or by interfering in their affairs.
rush in where angels fear to tread
If you say that someone rushes in where angels fear to tread , you are criticizing them gently because they get themselves into dangerous or difficult situations without thinking carefully enough about what they are doing.
tread a fine/delicate/narrow line/path
If someone is treading a fine line or path , they are acting carefully because they have to avoid making a serious mistake , especially in a situation where they have to deal with two opposing demands .
fools rush in where angels fear to tread
said to criticize a person who did something too quickly without thinking clearly about the likely consequences
Chinese translation of 'tread'
tread
(trɛd)
Word forms:pttrod
Word forms:pptrodden
n
(s) (= footstep) 脚(腳)步声(聲) (jiǎobùshēng)
(c/u)[of tyre]轮(輪)胎面 (lúntāimiàn)
vi
走 (zǒu)
to tread carefully (fig) 小心行事 (xiǎoxīn xíngshì)
(verb)
Definition
to walk along (a path or road)
She trod casually, enjoying the sensation of bare feet on grass.
Synonyms
step
One of them accidentally stepped on my hand.
walk
They walked in silence for a while.
march
A Scottish battalion was marching down the street.
pace
I paced the room nervously.
stamp
He received a ban last week after stamping on the referee's foot.
stride
He turned abruptly and strode off down the corridor.
hike
You could hike through the Fish River Canyon.
tramp
They put on their coats and tramped through the fallen snow.
trudge
We had to trudge up the track back to the station.
plod
He plodded slowly up the hill.
(noun)
Definition
a way of walking or the sound of walking
We could hear their heavy tread and an occasional coarse laugh.
Synonyms
step
I took a step towards him.
walk
Despite his gangling walk, George was a good dancer.
pace
Their pace quickened as they approached their cars.
stride
He walked with long strides.
footstep
I heard footsteps outside.
gait
His gait was peculiarly awkward.
footfall
phrasal verb
See tread on something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of footstep
Definition
a step in walking
I heard footsteps outside.
Synonyms
step,
tread,
footfall
in the sense of gait
Definition
(of horses and dogs) the pattern of footsteps at a particular speed, such as a trot
His gait was peculiarly awkward.
Synonyms
walk,
step,
bearing,
pace,
stride,
carriage,
tread,
manner of walking
in the sense of hike
Definition
to walk a long way in the country, usually for pleasure
You could hike through the Fish River Canyon.
Synonyms
walk,
march,
trek,
ramble,
tramp,
leg it (informal),
back-pack,
hoof it (slang)
Synonyms of 'tread'
tread
Explore 'tread' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of march
Definition
(of an army, procession, etc.) to walk as an organized group
A Scottish battalion was marching down the street.
Synonyms
parade,
walk,
file,
pace,
stride,
tread,
tramp,
swagger,
footslog
in the sense of pace
Definition
to walk with regular steps, often in anxiety or impatience
I paced the room nervously.
Synonyms
stride,
walk,
pound,
patrol,
walk up and down,
march up and down,
walk back and forth
in the sense of pace
Definition
manner of walking
Their pace quickened as they approached their cars.
Synonyms
step,
walk,
stride,
tread,
gait
in the sense of plod
Definition
to walk with heavy slow steps
He plodded slowly up the hill.
Synonyms
trudge,
drag,
tread,
clump,
lumber,
tramp,
stomp (informal),
slog
in the sense of stamp
Definition
to bring (one's foot) down heavily
He received a ban last week after stamping on the referee's foot.
Synonyms
trample,
step,
tread,
crush
in the sense of stride
Definition
to walk with long steps or paces
He turned abruptly and strode off down the corridor.
Synonyms
march,
walk,
stalk,
pace,
tread,
strut
in the sense of stride
Definition
the length of such a step
He walked with long strides.
Synonyms
step,
pace,
footstep
in the sense of tramp
Definition
to walk heavily or firmly across or through (a place)
They put on their coats and tramped through the fallen snow.
Synonyms
trudge,
march,
stamp,
stump,
toil,
plod,
traipse (informal),
walk heavily
in the sense of trudge
Definition
to walk or plod heavily or wearily
We had to trudge up the track back to the station.
Synonyms
plod,
trek,
tramp,
traipse (informal),
march,
stump,
hike,
clump,
lumber,
slog,
drag yourself,
yomp,
walk heavily,
footslog
in the sense of walk
Definition
to pass through, on, or over on foot
They walked in silence for a while.
Synonyms
stride,
wander,
stroll,
trudge,
go,
move,
step,
march,
advance,
pace,
trek,
hike,
tread,
ramble,
tramp,
promenade,
amble,
saunter,
take a turn,
traipse (informal),
toddle,
make your way,
mosey (informal),
plod on,
perambulate,
footslog
Additional synonyms
in the sense of walk
Definition
a manner of walking
Despite his gangling walk, George was a good dancer.