ENGLISH
REFERENCE

tread

v. · n.
US //ˈtɹɛd// UK //tɹˈɛd// tread
Irregular verb past trod past participle trodden
  1. 1 to step on (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to step or walk on something.

    to set the foot down while walking; often used with 'on' or 'upon'.

    Example

    Be careful not to tread on the flowers while you are playing in the garden.

    Example

    The hikers were warned to tread carefully on the loose scree to avoid triggering a rockslide.
  2. 2 to crush with feet (v.)
    C1 Advanced Literary Cooking

    to press or crush something by stepping on it many times.

    to crush, press, or beat something using the feet.

    Example

    In the old days, people would tread grapes to make wine.

    Example

    The traditional festival featured a demonstration where volunteers would tread the harvested grapes in large wooden vats.
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  1. 3 tyre or shoe pattern (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the pattern of grooves on a tyre or the bottom of a shoe that stops you from slipping.

    the part of a wheel or shoe that makes contact with the ground, specifically the grooves designed to provide traction.

    Example

    The tyres on your car are dangerous because the tread is worn down.

    Example

    The forensic team took a plaster cast of the boot's tread to compare it with the prints found at the crime scene.
  2. 4 part of a stair (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    the flat part of a step that you stand on.

    the horizontal upper surface of a step in a staircase.

    Example

    The wooden tread of the third step was loose and made a loud noise.

    Example

    The architect specified oak for the stair treads to ensure durability in the high-traffic entrance hall.
  3. 5 sound of walking (n.)
    C1 Advanced Literary

    the sound or style of a person's footsteps.

    the sound, manner, or rhythm of a person's footsteps.

    Example

    She recognised the heavy tread of her father coming up the stairs.

    Example

    A heavy, deliberate tread echoed through the empty corridor, alerting the night watchman to an intruder.
Etymology 1

From Middle English treden, from Old English tredan, from Proto-West Germanic tredan, from Proto-Germanic trudaną.

Etymology 2

From Middle English tred, from treden (“to tread”).

Word family
  • Verbtread
  • Prepositionupon
Idioms4 entries

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