ENGLISH
REFERENCE

path

n. · v.
US //ˈpæθ// path
  1. 1 walking track (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a track or way made for walking or cycling.

    a trail or track specifically designed for or worn by pedestrians and cyclists.

    Example

    We followed a narrow path through the woods until we reached the river.

    Example

    The coastal path winds along the cliffs, offering hikers spectacular views of the Atlantic while keeping them safely away from the erosion-prone edges.
  2. 2 direction or route (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the direction that someone or something moves in.

    the physical course or route along which something moves or is directed.

    Example

    The storm's path suggests it will hit the coast by tomorrow morning.

    Example

    The satellite's orbital path was adjusted slightly to ensure continuous coverage of the disaster zone during the recovery efforts.
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  1. 3 life course (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a plan or way of life that leads to a certain result.

    a metaphorical course of action or a sequence of events leading to a specific goal or state.

    Example

    She chose a difficult career path but she enjoys the challenge.

    Example

    The government is seeking a diplomatic path to resolve the conflict without resorting to economic sanctions.
  2. 4 computing address (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

    the address that shows where a file is kept on a computer.

    a string of characters used to uniquely identify a location in a hierarchical file system or URL.

    Example

    You need to copy the full file path into the search bar to find the document.

    Example

    The application failed to launch because the absolute path to the configuration file contained spaces that the script could not parse correctly.
  3. 5 to find a way (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    to find or create a route through a space, often in a video game.

    to navigate or calculate a route through a complex environment, especially in computer science or gaming.

    Example

    The characters in the game sometimes struggle to path around large obstacles.

    Example

    The AI agents are programmed to path toward the nearest exit whenever the alarm state is triggered within the simulation.

    Usage

    Often used as an intransitive verb in the context of AI movement.
Etymology 1

From Middle English path, peth, from Old English pæþ (“path, track”), from Proto-West Germanic paþ, from Proto-Germanic paþaz (“path”). The Proto-Germanic term is possibly borrowed from Iranian, from Proto-Iranian pántaHh, from Proto-Indo-Iranian pántaHs, from Proto-Indo-European póntoh₁s, from the root pent- (“to pass”), however this is disputed. Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian Paad, Pad (“path”), West Frisian paad (“path”), Dutch pad (“path”), German Pfad (“path”), German Low German Padd (“path”), Luxembourgish Pad (“path”). Indo-Iranian cognates could be Avestan 𐬞𐬀𐬧𐬙𐬃 (paṇtā̊, “way”), Old Persian 𐎱𐎰 (p-θ /⁠paθi⁠/)), Sanskrit पन्था (panthā, “path”). See also English find. Doublet of panth.

Etymology 2

Shortening.

Word family
Idioms2 entries

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