traverse

¹tra·verse

noun
\ˈtra-vərs also -ˌvərs, especially for 6 & 8 also trə-ˈ or tra-ˈ\

Definition of TRAVERSE

1

: something that crosses or lies across

2

: obstacle, adversity

3

: a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposing party in a legal pleading

4

a : a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen b : a gallery or loft providing access from one side to another in a large building

5

: a route or way across or over: as a : a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds b : a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade c : the course followed in traversing

6

: the act or an instance of traversing : crossing

7

: a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench

8

a : a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage); also : a device for imparting such movement b : the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire

9

: a line surveyed across a plot of ground

Origin of TRAVERSE

Middle English travers, from Anglo-French travers (as in a travers, de travers across), from Latin transversum (as in in transversum set crosswise), neuter of transversus lying across; senses 5–9 in part from ²traverse — more at transverse

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with TRAVERSE

adverse, amerce, asperse, averse, coerce, commerce, converse, cutpurse, disburse, disperse, diverse, dry nurse, free verse, immerse, inverse, Nez Percé, obverse, perverse, rehearse, reverse, scrub nurse, sesterce, submerse, transverse, wet nurse