street

[street]

noun

1. a public thoroughfare, usually paved, in a village, town, or city, including the sidewalk or sidewalks.

   Synonyms: concourse, roadway

2. such a thoroughfare together with adjacent buildings, lots, etc..

   Houses, lawns, and trees composed a very pleasant street.

3. the roadway of such a thoroughfare, as distinguished from the sidewalk.

   to cross a street.

4. a main way or thoroughfare, as distinguished from a lane, alley, or the like.

5. the inhabitants or frequenters of a street.

   The whole street gossiped about the new neighbors.

6. Informal.,  the Street,

   1. the section of a city associated with a given profession or trade, especially when concerned with business or finance, as Wall Street.

   2. the principal theater and entertainment district of any of a number of U.S. cities.

adjective

1. of, on, or adjoining a street.

   a street door just off the sidewalk.

2. taking place or appearing on the street.

   street fight; street musicians.

3. coarse; crude; vulgar.

   street language.

4. suitable for everyday wear.

   street clothes; street dress.

5. retail.

   the street price of a new computer; the street value of a drug.

street

/ striːt /

noun

1. 1. (capital when part of a name) a public road that is usually lined with buildings, esp in a town

      Oxford Street

   2. ( as modifier )

      a street directory

2. the buildings lining a street

3. the part of the road between the pavements, used by vehicles

4. the people living, working, etc, in a particular street

5. (modifier) of or relating to the urban counterculture

   street style

   street drug

6. an ordinary or average citizen

7. 1. earning a living as a prostitute

   2. homeless

8. informal,  superior to, more advanced than, etc

9. informal,  markedly different

10. informal,  (just) what one knows or likes best

verb

1. to outdistance

Other Word Forms

• streetless adjective
• streetlike adjective
• interstreet adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of street¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English strēt, strǣt; cognate with Dutch straat, German Strasse; all ultimately from Latin (via) strāta “paved (road)”; stratum

Word History and Origins

Origin of street¹

Old English strǣt, from Latin via strāta paved way ( strāta, from strātus, past participle of sternere to stretch out); compare Old Frisian strēte, Old High German strāza; see _stratus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on / in the street,

   1. without a home.

      You'll be out on the street if the rent isn't paid.

   2. without a job or occupation; idle.

   3. out of prison or police custody; at liberty.

2. up one's street, alley.

see back street; easy street; man in the street; on the street; side street; work both sides of the street.

Synonym Study

Street, alley, avenue, boulevard all refer to public ways or roads in municipal areas. A street is a road in a village, town, or city, especially a road lined with buildings. An alley is a narrow street or footway, especially at the rear of or between rows of buildings or lots. An avenue is properly a prominent street, often one bordered by fine residences and impressive buildings, or with a row of trees on each side. A boulevard is a beautiful, broad street, lined with rows of stately trees, especially used as a promenade. In some cities street and avenue are used interchangeably, the only difference being that those running one direction (say, north and south) are given one designation and those crossing them are given the other.

Example Sentences

"Rubbish piled up in the streets and what were the politicians focusing on - airports in Pakistan and Gaza," she said.

From BBC

Her 17-year-old son Jehad was on the street in Gaza early last year when an Israeli air strike hit nearby.

From BBC

Federal troops are wreaking havoc in the streets, people are being abducted and sent to prison camps — or disappeared entirely — and the military is executing orders to murder foreign civilians on the high seas.

From Salon

She added: "I simply cannot see him walking the streets of our diverse country without thinking that he would harm someone like me – a black person."

From BBC

Then there’s a place in Frogtown called Wax Paper, and it’s basically in a shipping container on a corner of the street.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• avenue 
• boulevard 
• court 
• highway 
• lane 
• pavement 
• place 
• road 
• roadway 
• route 
• thoroughfare 
• track 
• trail