Main Entry: ¹pace

Pronunciation: \ˈpās\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English pas, from Anglo-French, stride, step, from Latin passus, from pandere to spread — more at fathom

Date: 14th century

1 a : rate of movement; especially : an established rate of locomotion b : rate of progress; specifically : parallel rate of growth or development <supplies kept pace with demand> c : an example to be emulated; specifically : first place in a competition <three strokes off the pace — Time> d (1) : rate of performance or delivery : tempo <a steady pace> <on pace to set a record>; especially : speed <serves with great pace> <a pace bowler in cricket> (2) : rhythmic animation : fluency <writes with color, with zest, and with pace — Amy Loveman>
2 : a manner of walking : tread
3 a : step 2a(1) b : any of various units of distance based on the length of a human step
4 a plural : an exhibition or test of skills or capacities <the trainer put the tiger through its paces> b : gait; especially : a fast 2-beat gait (as of the horse) in which the legs move in lateral pairs and support the animal alternately on the right and left legs