Main Entry: ²tra·verse

Pronunciation: \trə-ˈvərs also tra-ˈ or ˈtra-(ˌ)\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): tra·versed; tra·vers·ing

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French traverser, from Late Latin transversare, from Latin transversus

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 a : to go against or act in opposition to : oppose, thwart b : to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) formally at law
2 a : to go or travel across or over b : to move or pass along or through <light rays traversing a crystal>
3 : to make a study of : examine
4 : to lie or extend across : cross <the bridge traverses a brook>
5 a : to move to and fro over or along b : to ascend, descend, or cross (a slope or gap) at an angle c : to move (a gun) to right or left on a pivot
6 : to make or carry out a survey of by using traversesintransitive verb 1 : to move back and forth or from side to side
2 : to move or turn laterally : swivel
3 a : to climb at an angle or in a zigzag course b : to ski across rather than straight down a hill
4 : to make a survey by using traverses

— tra·vers·able \-ˈvər-sə-bəl, -(ˌ)vər-\ adjective

— tra·vers·er noun