1
a
: to step or walk on or over
b
: to walk or proceed along : follow
treading a fine line between tradition and innovation
4
: to copulate with
—used of a male bird
1
: to move or proceed on or as if on foot
must tread lightly
2
a
: to set foot
has gone where others fear to tread
b
: to put one's foot : step
carelessly treading on the flowers
3
: copulate
treader
noun
1
a(1)
: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail
(2)
: the pattern of ridges or grooves made or cut in the face of a tire
b
: the part of a shoe or boot sole that touches the ground
also
: the pattern on the bottom of a sole
2
a
: the upper horizontal part of a step
b
: the width of such a tread
3
4
: a mark (something, such as a footprint or the imprint of a tire) made by or as if by treading
5
: the distance between the points of contact with the ground of the two front wheels or the two rear wheels of a vehicle
Synonyms
Examples of tread in a Sentence
Verb
They slowly trod back to the camp.
Don't tread on the grass.
treading the halls of the Senate
Countless footsteps have trodden a path to their door.
Noun
The treads of the tires were badly worn.
running shoes with good treads
Recent Examples on the Web
Angela Haupt, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
People at the dinner said there is a desire to reconnect the two groups — especially given the years of interfaith work in the community — but that individuals are treading carefully.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Dishes tread the line between delicacy and substance.
—Gisela Williams Marina O’Loughlin Roxanne Fequiere Camille Sojit Pejcha Gisela Williams, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
However, the final couple days on the schedule only matter if the Suns tread water in this upcoming stretch.
—Shane Young, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Mortgage rates rise for the second week, reaching 6.77%
After treading water for months, US mortgage rates jumped higher Thursday following a string of strong employment and inflation data, reports my colleague Anna Bahney.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Alabama has never won a basketball college national championship title – the school is famous for its football team – and so is treading on new ground.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Easier to see is that Spain’s top division is treading its unique path with this deal, running until at least 2028.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Going against the grain will leave you treading water instead of making progress.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024
Lauren Fischer, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Wear water shoes with good grippy tread even at the height of summer, when park rangers place temporary footbridges — wooden planks — over some of the deeper spots.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Captivate Walking Shoes feature Vionic’s lightest outsole ever, plus a super grippy tread and a sock-fit collar for the perfect fit.
—Jennifer Chan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
Driving cars with no tread on a wet surface isn’t going to happen.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024
Damaged tires may experience a sudden loss of air pressure or tread separation.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Wore out the treads on brand-new white Keds jumping in the streets during Caribana—the city's annual Caribbean carnival celebration.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Upstairs is the primary suite tower, featuring lofty ceilings, a brick fireplace, eyebrow windows, a sitting area with ocean view, and a spiral staircase with handmade driftwood treads corkscrewing up to a studio/loft/meditation space.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2024
In addition, Bridgestone's engineers have designed the tire's contact patch (the part of the tread that stays in touch with the road) to remain flat during driving—this ensures the greatest number of sipes and tread blocks are in contact with the surface to maximize traction.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
Verb
Read More: How to Respond to an Insult, According to Therapists
People who are lying, on the other hand, tread carefully.
—Angela Haupt, TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
People at the dinner said there is a desire to reconnect the two groups — especially given the years of interfaith work in the community — but that individuals are treading carefully.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
Dishes tread the line between delicacy and substance.
—Gisela Williams Marina O’Loughlin Roxanne Fequiere Camille Sojit Pejcha Gisela Williams, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
However, the final couple days on the schedule only matter if the Suns tread water in this upcoming stretch.
—Shane Young, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Mortgage rates rise for the second week, reaching 6.77%
After treading water for months, US mortgage rates jumped higher Thursday following a string of strong employment and inflation data, reports my colleague Anna Bahney.
—Krystal Hur, CNN, 16 Feb. 2024
Alabama has never won a basketball college national championship title – the school is famous for its football team – and so is treading on new ground.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 6 Apr. 2024
Easier to see is that Spain’s top division is treading its unique path with this deal, running until at least 2028.
—Henry Flynn, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
Going against the grain will leave you treading water instead of making progress.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
The black slip-on style has removable padding, and they’re designed with a tread on the bottom to prevent slipping.
—Lauren Fischer, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Wear water shoes with good grippy tread even at the height of summer, when park rangers place temporary footbridges — wooden planks — over some of the deeper spots.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024
The Captivate Walking Shoes feature Vionic’s lightest outsole ever, plus a super grippy tread and a sock-fit collar for the perfect fit.
—Jennifer Chan, Travel + Leisure, 25 Mar. 2024
Driving cars with no tread on a wet surface isn’t going to happen.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2024
Damaged tires may experience a sudden loss of air pressure or tread separation.
—USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
Wore out the treads on brand-new white Keds jumping in the streets during Caribana—the city's annual Caribbean carnival celebration.
—Heather Greenwood Davis, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024
Upstairs is the primary suite tower, featuring lofty ceilings, a brick fireplace, eyebrow windows, a sitting area with ocean view, and a spiral staircase with handmade driftwood treads corkscrewing up to a studio/loft/meditation space.
—James McClain, Robb Report, 26 Feb. 2024
In addition, Bridgestone's engineers have designed the tire's contact patch (the part of the tread that stays in touch with the road) to remain flat during driving—this ensures the greatest number of sipes and tread blocks are in contact with the surface to maximize traction.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tread.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Tread.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tread. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tread
2 of 2 noun1
: a mark made by or as if by treading
2
: the action, manner, or sound of treading or stepping
3
a
: the part of a sole that touches the ground
b
: the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail
especially
: the ridges or grooves on the surface of a tire
4
: the horizontal part of a step
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