# traverse

/ˈtɹævɝs/ (US) · /tɹɐvˈɜːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/traverse
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to travel across

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to move across or through an area, especially when the journey is long or difficult.

For teachers: to travel across, over, or through a particular area or terrain. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the space being crossed.

- The explorers had to traverse a vast desert to reach the ancient city.
- The research team spent three weeks attempting to traverse the rugged mountain range before the winter snows blocked the high passes.

### 3. to rotate a weapon

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to turn a large gun or camera sideways to point it at a target.

For teachers: to rotate a gun, turret, or sensor around a vertical axis to align it with a target.

- The tank commander ordered the crew to traverse the turret toward the trees.
- The automated defense system can traverse three hundred and sixty degrees in seconds to intercept incoming projectiles.

### 4. to deny formally

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to officially say that a statement in a legal case is not true.

For teachers: to formally deny an allegation of fact made by the opposing party in legal pleadings.

- The lawyer chose to traverse the witness's claim during the trial.
- The defense filed a motion to traverse the prosecution's primary evidence, arguing that the timeline presented was physically impossible.

### 5. a crossing path

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a path or route that goes across something, like a mountain or a building.

For teachers: a route or path that crosses a particular area; in architecture, a gallery or loft providing communication across a large building.

- The narrow traverse along the cliff edge was dangerous in the wind.
- The architect included a high traverse in the cathedral design to allow maintenance crews to access the upper windows safely.

### 6. surveying line

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a series of measured lines used to map an area.

For teachers: a series of lines of known length and direction used in surveying to determine the relative positions of points.

- The surveyors completed the traverse to mark the boundaries of the new park.
- Errors in the initial traverse led to a significant discrepancy in the land deeds, requiring a complete resurvey of the valley.

## Examples

- The hikers plan to traverse the mountain range in three days.
- The new bridge allows commuters to traverse the wide river in less than five minutes.
- The probe was designed to traverse the lunar surface, collecting soil samples from various craters to determine the chemical composition of the moon's crust.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.