path
[ path, pahth ]
/ pæθ, pɑθ /
noun, plural paths [pathz, pahthz, paths, pahths] /pæðz, pɑðz, pæθs, pɑθs/.
a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals.
a narrow walk or way: a path through a garden; a bicycle path.
a route, course, or track along which something moves: the path of a hurricane.
a course of action, conduct, or procedure: the path of righteousness.
Mathematics. a continuous curve that connects two or more points.
Computers. the sequence of steps that a computer follows in carrying out a routine, as in storing and retrieving a file at a specific location.
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Nearby words
Idioms
cross one's path, to encounter or meet unexpectedly: Tragedy crossed our path again.
Origin of path
before 900; Middle English; Old English pæth; cognate with German Pfad
SYNONYMS FOR path
1 footpath, pathway. Path, lane, trail are passages or routes not as wide as a way or road. A path is a way for passing on foot; a track, beaten by feet, not specially constructed, is often along the side of a road: a path through a field. A lane is a narrow road or track, generally between fields, often enclosed with fences or trees; sometimes it is an alley or narrow road between buildings in towns: a lane leading to a farmhouse; Drury Lane. A trail is a rough way made or worn through woods, or across mountains, prairies, or other untraveled regions: an Indian trail.
Related forms
mul·ti·path, nounout·path, nounDefinition for path (2 of 4)
Definition for path (3 of 4)
-path
a combining form occurring in personal nouns corresponding to abstract nouns ending in -pathy, with the general sense “one practicing such a treatment” (osteopath) or “one suffering from such an ailment” (psychopath).
Definition for path (4 of 4)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for path
British Dictionary definitions for path (1 of 3)
path
/ (pɑːθ) /
noun plural paths (pɑːðz)
a road or way, esp a narrow trodden track
a surfaced walk, as through a garden
the course or direction in which something movesthe path of a whirlwind
a course of conductthe path of virtue
computing the directions for reaching a particular file or directory, as traced hierarchically through each of the parent directories usually from the root; the file or directoryand all parent directories are separated from one another in the path by slashes
Derived Forms
pathless, adjectiveWord Origin for path
Old English pæth; related to Old High German, German Pfad
British Dictionary definitions for path (2 of 3)
path.
/ (pæθ) /
abbreviation for
pathological
pathology
British Dictionary definitions for path (3 of 3)
-path
n combining form
denoting a person suffering from a specified disease or disorderneuropath
denoting a practitioner of a particular method of treatmentosteopath
Word Origin for -path
back formation from -pathy
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for path
-path
suff.
A practitioner of a specified kind of medical treatment:naturopath.
One affected by a specified kind of disorder:sociopath.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Idioms and Phrases with path
path
see beat a path to someone's door; cross someone's path; lead down the garden path; least resistance, path of; on the warpath.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.