road
n. · adj.-
1 a way for vehicles (n.) A1 Beginnera hard surface built for cars, buses, and bicycles to travel between places.
a prepared route or thoroughfare for use by motor vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
ExampleThe road was very busy during the morning rush hour.
ExampleThe local council approved a budget to resurface the main road connecting the industrial estate to the city centre.
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2 a path or route (n.) B1 Intermediatea way of achieving something or a path you take in life.
a metaphorical path or course of action leading to a specific result or destination.
ExampleHard work is the only road to success in this business.
ExampleThe long road to recovery began with small, daily exercises designed to restore her mobility after the surgery.
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3 sheltered water (n.) C2 Proficiency Technical Nauticala safe place near the shore where ships can stay at anchor.
a partly sheltered area of water near a shore where vessels may ride at anchor; often used in the plural form 'roads'.
ExampleThe fleet waited in the roads until the storm passed.
ExampleThe merchant vessels gathered in the protected roads, awaiting a favourable wind to begin their journey across the channel.
UsageOften appears in the plural form 'roads' in maritime contexts.
Teacher's tipThis is a highly specialised term; learners will likely only encounter it in historical literature or nautical charts.
- roadstead
- anchorage
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4 cricket pitch (n.) C1 Advanced Informal Sporta very flat and hard surface in cricket that makes it easy to hit the ball.
a hard, flat pitch that offers little assistance to bowlers and is highly favourable for batting.
ExampleThe batsmen scored many runs because the pitch was a total road.
ExampleThe opening pair capitalised on the flat road of a pitch, reaching a century partnership before the first drinks break.
Teacher's tipUsed specifically in cricket-playing nations like the UK, Australia, and India.
- flat track
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5 away from home (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediate American English Sporthappening at the stadium of the opposing team.
pertaining to a game or series of games played at the opponent's venue.
ExampleThe team is tired after their long road trip this week.
ExampleThe coach expressed concern about the team's poor road record, noting that they had lost five consecutive games away from home.
UsageUsually used before a noun.
Teacher's tipCommonly used in North American sports like baseball or basketball.
From Middle English rode, rade (“ride, journey”), from Old English rād (“riding, hostile incursion”), from Proto-West Germanic raidu, from Proto-Germanic raidō (“a ride”), from Proto-Indo-European *reydʰ- (“to ride”). Doublet of raid, acquired from Scots. Cognates include West Frisian reed (paved trail/road, driveway). The current primary meaning of "street, way for traveling" originated relatively late — Shakespeare seemed to expect his audiences to find it unfamiliar — and probably arose through reinterpretation of roadway (“a way for riding on”) as saying way twice, in other words as a tautological compound.