tread

I. verb (trod; also treaded; trodden or trod; treading) Etymology: Middle English treden, from Old English tredan; akin to Old High German tretan to tread Date: before 12th century 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 beat or press with the feet ; trample b. to subdue or repress as if by trampling ; crush 3. to copulate with — used of a male bird 4. a. to form by treading ; beat <

tread a path

> b. to execute by stepping or dancing <

tread a measure

> 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. copulate • treader noun II. noun Date: 13th century 1. a mark (as a footprint or the imprint of a tire) made by or as if by treading 2. a. (1) the action of treading (2) an act or instance of treading ; step b. manner of stepping c. the sound of treading 3. a. the part of a shoe or boot sole that touches the ground; also the pattern on the bottom of a sole b. (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 4. the distance between the points of contact with the ground of the two front wheels or the two rear wheels of a vehicle 5. a. the upper horizontal part of a step b. the width of such a tread • treadless adjective