tread /tred/

1. To set the foot down
2. To step
3. To walk
4. To trample
5. (of a male bird) to copulate

1. To walk on
2. To press with the foot, eg in threshing or pressing grapes
3. To trample, crush with the feet
4. To beat or form (a path, etc)
5. To perform by treading, dance
6. (of a male bird) to copulate with
7. To oppress (figurative)

1. The act or manner of treading
2. A step or tramp
3. A thing or part trodden on, eg on a step
4. The part that touches the ground, eg on a shoe or a wheel
5. (the thickness of) the moulded ridged rubber surface of a pneumatic tyre, which has contact with the road
6. A footprint
7. A track
8. The distance between wheels or pedals
9. The cicatricula, or the chalaza, of an egg
10. Business, trade (see also ety below) (Scot)

treadˈer noun

treadˈing noun

treadˈle or treddˈle noun

1. A foot-lever for working a machine
2. A pedal
3. The chalaza of an egg (once thought to be derived from the cock) (dialect)

To work a treadle

treadˈler noun

treadˈling noun

treadˈmill noun

1. A machine with a continuously moving surface of adjustable speed used for exercising on by running or walking
2. A cylinder turned by treading on boards on its outside, as formerly by prisoners
3. A mill so worked
4. Routine drudgery

treadˈwheel noun

1. A wheel or cylinder turned by treading outside or inside
2. A treadmill

tread (or walk) on air

To feel exhilarated

tread the boards

To act on stage

tread water

1. To float upright by an action as if of climbing a ladder
2. To hold back temporarily from making progress (figurative)

• blackbird
• blackbirder
• blackbirders
• blackbirding
• blackbirdings
• blackbirds
• blackboard
• blackboards
• black bodies
• black-boding
• black body
• black body radiation
• black body temperature
• black book
• black books
• black bottom
• black bottoms
• black box
• black boxes
• blackboy
• blackboys
• black bread
• black breads
• black-browed
• black bryony