Main Entry: ¹walk

Pronunciation: \ˈwȯk\

Function: verb

Etymology: partly from Middle English walken (past welk, past participle walken), from Old English wealcan to roll, toss, journey about (past weolc, past participle wealcen) and partly from Middle English walkien (past walked, past participle walked), from Old English wealcian to roll up, muffle up; akin to Middle Dutch walken to knead, press, full

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb 1 a obsolete : roam, wander b of a spirit : to move about in visible form : appear c of a ship : to make headway
2 a : to move along on foot : advance by steps b : to come or go easily or readily c : to go on foot for exercise or pleasure d : to go at a walk
3 a : to pursue a course of action or way of life : conduct oneself : behave <walk warily> b : to be or act in association : continue in union <the British and American peoples will…walk together side by side…in peace — Sir Winston Churchill> c : walk out <walked over problems with management>
4 : to go to first base as a result of a base on balls
5 of an inanimate object a : to move in a manner that is suggestive of walking b : to stand with an appearance suggestive of strides <pylons walking across the valley>
6 of an astronaut : to move about in space outside a spacecraft
7 : to avoid criminal prosecution or conviction <walked on a technicality>transitive verb 1 a : to pass on foot or as if on foot through, along, over, or upon : traverse, perambulate <walk the streets> <walk a tightrope> b : to perform or accomplish by going on foot <walk guard>
2 a : to cause (an animal) to go at a walk : take for a walk <walking a dog> b (1) : to cause to move by walking <walked her bicycle up the hill> (2) : to haul (as an anchor) by walking round the capstan
3 : to follow on foot for the purpose of measuring, surveying, or inspecting <walk a boundary>
4 a : to accompany on foot : walk with <walked her home> b : to compel to walk (as by a command) c : to bring to a specified condition by walking <walked us off our feet>
5 : to move (an object) in a manner suggestive of walking
6 : to perform (a dance) at a walking pace <walk a quadrille>
7 : to give a base on balls to

— walk away from 1 : to outrun or get the better of without difficulty
2 : to survive (an accident) with little or no injury
3 : to give up or leave behind willingly : abandon

— walk off with 1 a : to steal and take away b : to take over unexpectedly from someone else : steal 1d <walked off with the show>
2 : to win or gain especially by outdoing one's competitors without difficulty

— walk on : to take advantage of : abuse

— walk on eggshells or walk on eggs : to exercise extreme caution

— walk over : to treat contemptuously

— walk the plank 1 : to walk under compulsion over the side of a ship into the sea
2 : to resign an office or position under compulsion

— walk through 1 : to go through (as a theatrical role or familiar activity) perfunctorily (as in an early stage of rehearsal)
2 : to guide (as a novice) through an unfamiliar or complex procedure step-by-step
3 : to deal with or carry out perfunctorily