ENGLISH
REFERENCE

path

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈpæθ// path General-service

n. a track or way made for walking or cycling. It can also mean the direction someone or something is moving in.

n. a track or route specifically designed for or created by walking; figuratively, a course of action or a sequence of events. In computing, it refers to the specific location of a file or directory within a file system.


SIMPLE

The path through the woods is very narrow.

CONTEXTUAL

The hikers followed a winding path that led them directly to the hidden waterfall at the top of the hill.

COMPLEX

Choosing a career in research often requires a path of rigorous academic study and several years of low-paid assistant work before one achieves professional independence.

Synonyms
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.

Usage

Commonly used with the prepositions 'to' or 'towards' when describing a goal or destination.

Idioms2 entries

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