avenue

[av-uh-nyoo, -noo]

noun

1. a wide street or main thoroughfare.

2. a means of access or attainment.

   avenues of escape; avenues to greater power.

3. a way or means of entering into or approaching a place.

   the various avenues to India.

4. Chiefly British.

   1. a wide, usually tree-lined road, path, driveway, etc., through grounds to a country house or monumental building.

   2. a suburban, usually tree-lined residential street.

avenue

/ ˈævɪˌnjuː /

noun

1. 1. a broad street, often lined with trees

   2. (capital as part of a street name) a road, esp in a built-up area

      Shaftesbury Avenue

2. a main approach road, as to a country house

3. a way bordered by two rows of trees

   an avenue of oaks

4. a line of approach

   explore every avenue

Word History and Origins

Origin of avenue¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French, literally, “approach,” noun use of feminine past participle of avenir, from Latin advenīre “to come to.” See a- ⁵, venue

Word History and Origins

Origin of avenue¹

C17: from French, from avenir to come to, from Latin advenīre, from venīre to come

Synonym Study

See street.

Example Sentences

But mining experts say there are few legal avenues to prevent Australian-listed companies, which do much of the world’s mineral exploration, from selling their mines abroad.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When he’s ready to get back into the job market, Cherundolo said he’ll be “open for any coaching job. But maybe some other avenues as well.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the real culprit, according to Chief Executive Daniel Heaf, was a strategy pursued by former management that neglected its most-popular categories in pursuit of new avenues of growth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The A12 cafe, on one of the busiest avenues in the capital, displays a large picture of a foaming pint on its window.

Read more on Barron's

Explore different avenues for building credit, like getting a student credit card.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• boulevard 
• channel 
• entrance 
• outlet 
• pathway 
• promenade 
• road 
• route 
• thoroughfare