passage

¹pas·sage

noun \ˈpa-sij\

Definition of PASSAGE

1

a : a way of exit or entrance : a road, path, channel, or course by which something passes

b : a corridor or lobby giving access to the different rooms or parts of a building or apartment

2

a : the action or process of passing from one place, condition, or stage to another

b : death 1a

c : a continuous movement or flow <the passage of time>

3

a (1) : a specific act of traveling or passing especially by sea or air (2) : a privilege of conveyance as a passenger : accommodations

b : the passing of a legislative measure or law : enactment

4

: a right, liberty, or permission to pass

5

a : something that happens or is done : incident

b : something that takes place between two persons mutually

6

a : a usually brief portion of a written work or speech that is relevant to a point under discussion or noteworthy for content or style

b : a phrase or short section of a musical composition

c : a detail of a work of art (as a painting)

7

: the act or action of passing something or undergoing a passing

8

: incubation of a pathogen (as a virus) in culture, a living organism, or a developing egg

Examples of PASSAGE

1. We squeezed through a narrow passage between the rocks.
2. Special ships clear passages through the ice.
3. The medicine makes breathing easier by opening nasal passages.
4. They controlled the passage of goods through their territory.
5. the passage of food through the digestive system
6. the passage of air into and out of the lungs
7. the passage from life to death
8. the passage of the seasons
9. He left after the passage of a few hours.
10. With the passage of time, the number of children suffering with the disease has decreased dramatically.

First Known Use of PASSAGE

13th century

Related to PASSAGE

Synonyms

approach, avenue, path, route, way

Antonyms

recess, recession, regress, regression, retreat, retrogression

Related Words

bypath, byway, lane, laneway [British]; artery, boulevard, bypass, drive, expressway, freeway, high road, highway, pass, passageway, pike, road, roadway, routeway [chiefly British], row, street, thoroughfare, turnpike; walk, walkway; trace, track, trail; airway; bikeway, cycleway [British]; channel, gat, watercourse, waterway; door, doorway, gate, gateway, hatch, portal

Near Antonyms

backwash, ebb, reflux; retraction, return, reversal, reverse; about-face, turnabout, turnaround

²passage

verb

pas·sagedpas·sag·ing

Definition of PASSAGE

intransitive verb

: to go past or across : cross

transitive verb

: to subject to passage <passaged a virus>

First Known Use of PASSAGE

1824