traverse

verb tra·verse \ trə-ˈvərs also tra-ˈ or ˈtra-(ˌ) \

Definition of traverse

traversed; traversing

transitive verb

1 a :to go or travel across or over

b :to move or pass along or through

light rays traversing a crystal

2 :to make a study of :examine

3 :to lie or extend across :cross

the bridge traverses a brook

4 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

5 a :to go against or act in opposition to :oppose, thwart

b :to deny (something, such as an allegation of fact or an indictment) formally at law

6 :to make or carry out a survey of by using traverses

intransitive 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

—

traversable

play \-ˈvər-sə-bəl, -(ˌ)vər-\ adjective

—

traverser

noun

See traverse defined for English-language learners

Examples of traverse in a Sentence

The candidates traversed the state throughout the campaign.
The river traverses the county.

Recent Examples of traverse from the Web

For six days, the class learned ice climbing, crevasse rescue and how to traverse glaciers.

— katherine jones, idahostatesman, "When this Boisean reached the summit of El Capitan it was just the beginning of his journey," 21 Aug. 2017
That path is going to traverse the continental U.S. and still millions of people have the opportunity to see it, all the way from the Northwest to the Southeast.

— annie alleman, Aurora Beacon-News, "Here's where to safely view the solar eclipse," 2 Aug. 2017
Hundreds of physical therapy sessions and oodles of enthusiasm later, Mason is walking, able to traverse the school's black-and-white-tiled hallway with the support of an adult.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Fear of Medicaid cuts looms at school for disabled children," 24 July 2017
Before an explosion in the 1980s diverted the Red Line to Vermont Avenue, it was supposed to traverse Fairfax.

— neal broverman, Los Angeles Magazine, "4 Neighborhoods That Need a Streetcar More Than DTLA," 19 July 2017
Here, for example, is how the moon traverses the sky at the South Pole during the part of the year when the region experiences night 24 hours a day.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "Goodnight, Too-Large-to-Be-Astronomically-Accurate Moon," 18 July 2017
Portions of the hike are strenuous as participants traverse over 1.5 miles through thick vegetation.

— joy davis, Aurora Beacon-News, "Fireflies to shine at program in Batavia park," 29 June 2017
At a width of seven feet, there is space for a row of friends or colleagues to traverse it together.

— emily nonko, The Atlantic, "How Wheelchair Accessibility Ramped Up," 22 June 2017
Teams like the Browns and Jets—recent unsuccessful franchises that have traversed various strategic models of team building— appear to be committing to new philosophies that eschew quick fixes and instead taking the long view.

— andrew brandt, The MMQB, "How to Build a Winning Franchise in the NFL," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'traverse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of traverse

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

traverse Synonyms

Synonyms

course, cover, cross, cut (across), follow, go, navigate, pass (over), perambulate, peregrinate, proceed (along), track, transit, travel

Related Words

hike, traipse, tramp, tread, walk; ride, run; crisscross

traverse

noun tra·verse \ ˈtra-vərs also -ˌvərs , especially for senses 6 and 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: such 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

See traverse defined for kids

Recent Examples of traverse from the Web

Some climbers hire guides for the trip, and some of those guides rope up clients for tougher traverses.

— craig r. mccoy / staff writer, Philly.com, "Horror on the mountain," 12 July 2017
Analyses by the team, including carbon dating, suggest that the excreta dug up at the Traversette site could date to well within the ballpark of the Punic forces’ traverse.

— Smithsonian, "How (and Where) Did Hannibal Cross the Alps?," 28 June 2017
Some people don’t do the traverse wall correctly either –

— lori nickel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Chin Up: 5,000 Spartans take over Lambeau," 25 June 2017
Shackleton and his men were to attempt the first full traverse of the frozen continent in the south.

— kraig becker, Popular Mechanics, "Chasing Ernest: A Journey to South Georgia to Find the Ghost of Shackleton," 20 June 2017
Before her traverse was complete, the group of turtle rescue volunteers arrived, providing the officers with enough manpower and expertise to return the turtle back to the water.

— gwen filosa, miamiherald, "Why did the sea turtle cross the busy road? To lay eggs on the other side.," 26 May 2017
Race organizers had whittled the $10 million Pro Challenge’s losses to about $2 million a year, but the absence of a title sponsor eventually doomed the race after five celebrated traverses of Colorado.

— dylan owens, The Know, "A “game changer” for cycling, Denver will add a music festival to the Colorado Classic with Wilco, Death Cab for Cutie," 1 Mar. 2017
Day 2 will push riders from Pagosa Springs to Durango for 68 miles and will feature a traverse of Yellowjacket Pass, good for 2,490 feet of climbing.

— daniel petty, The Denver Post, "Ride the Rockies makes return to southwest Colorado with 2017 route," 4 Feb. 2017
There to guide me on a traverse of the Kuresoo was Aivar Ruukel, a local expert, redoubtable in camo fatigues and a knee-length poncho.

— henry wismayer, New York Times, "Letter of Recommendation: Bogs," 16 Nov. 2016

Origin and Etymology 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 ¹traverse — more at ¹transverse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

traverse

adjective tra·verse \ ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs , trə-ˈ , tra-ˈ \

Definition of traverse

:lying across :transverse

First Known Use of traverse

15th century

TRAVERSE Defined for English Language Learners

traverse

verb

Definition of traverse for English Language Learners

: to move across (an area)

TRAVERSE Defined for Kids

traverse

verb tra·verse \ trə-ˈvərs \

Definition of traverse for Students

traversed; traversing

:to pass through, across, or over

Law Dictionary

traverse

noun tra·verse \ ˈtra-ˌvərs, trə-ˈvərs \

legal Definition of traverse

:a denial of a matter of fact alleged in the opposing party's pleadings; also :a pleading in which such a denial is made

traverse

transitive verb tra·verse \ trə-ˈvərs, ˈtra-ˌvərs \

legal Definition of traverse

:to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) in a legal proceeding

Origin and Etymology of traverse

Anglo-French traverser, literally, to lay across, bar, impede, from Old French, from Late Latin transversare to cross, from Latin transversus lying across