What does "avenue" mean?

1. (a wide street) a wide road in a town or city, often with trees along the sides. 2. (a way to achieve something) a way of doing something or a path toward a goal. 3. (a private approach road) a long, private road leading to a large house, usually with trees on both sides.

avenue

US //ˈævəˌnu// UK //ˈævənjˌuː// av·enue

1 a wide street (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a wide road in a town or city, often with trees along the sides.

a broad thoroughfare, typically one that is landscaped with trees or serves as a primary artery in a grid-based urban layout.

Example

The hotel is located on a beautiful avenue lined with old oak trees.

Example

The city planners designed the central avenue to accommodate both heavy tram traffic and wide pedestrian walkways shaded by plane trees.
- alley
- lane
2 a way to achieve something (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a way of doing something or a path toward a goal.

a metaphorical path, method, or means by which a specific objective may be pursued or achieved.

Example

The company is exploring every avenue to find a solution to the problem.

Example

Before proceeding with litigation, the legal team exhausted every possible avenue for a peaceful out-of-court settlement.

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3 a private approach road (n.)
C1 Advanced Literary

a long, private road leading to a large house, usually with trees on both sides.

the principal approach or driveway to a country house or estate, characteristically bordered by rows of trees.

Example

A long gravel avenue led the visitors from the main gate to the front of the manor.

Example

The carriage rattled up the lime-tree avenue, the grand facade of the estate slowly coming into view through the morning mist.
- driveway
- approach

Origin

Borrowed from French avenue, from Old French avenue, feminine past participle of avenir (“approach”), from Latin adveniō, advenīre (“come to”, from ad (“to”) + veniō, venīre (“come”)).