road

[ rohd ]
See synonyms for: roadroads on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a long, narrow stretch with a smoothed or paved surface, made for traveling by motor vehicle, carriage, etc., between two or more points; street or highway.

  2. a way or course: the road to peace.

  1. Often roads .Also called roadstead .Nautical. a partly sheltered area of water near a shore in which vessels may ride at anchor.

  2. Mining. any tunnel in a mine used for hauling.

  3. the road, the places, usually outside of New York City, at which theatrical companies on tour generally give performances.

Idioms about road

  1. burn up the road, Slang. to drive or move very fast.

  2. down the road, in the future: Economists see higher interest rates down the road.

  1. hit the road, Slang. to begin or resume traveling: We hit the road before sunrise.

  2. one for the road, a final alcoholic drink taken just before departing from a party, tavern, or the like.

  3. on the road,

    • traveling, especially as a sales representative.

    • on tour, as a theatrical company: The musical ends its New York run next week to go on the road.

    • started; under way: We need funds to get the project on the road.

  4. take the high road. See entry at take the high road.

  5. take to the road, to begin a journey or tour.: Also take the road.

Origin of road

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English rode, earlier rade, Old English rād “a riding, journey on horseback,” akin to rīdan “to ride

Other words from road

  • road·less, adjective
  • road·less·ness, noun
  • in·ter·road, adjective

Words Nearby road

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use road in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for road

road

/ (rəʊd) /


noun
    • an open way, usually surfaced with asphalt or concrete, providing passage from one place to another

    • (as modifier): road traffic; a road map; a road sign

    • (in combination): the roadside

    • a street

    • (capital when part of a name): London Road

    • US short for railroad

    • British one of the tracks of a railway

  1. a way, path, or course: the road to fame

  2. Also called: roadstead (often plural) nautical a partly sheltered anchorage

  3. a drift or tunnel in a mine, esp a level one

  4. hit the road slang to start or resume travelling

  5. on the road

    • travelling, esp as a salesman

    • (of a theatre company, pop group, etc) on tour

    • leading a wandering life

  6. take the road or take to the road to begin a journey or tour

  7. one for the road informal a last alcoholic drink before leaving

Origin of road

1
Old English rād; related to rīdan to ride, and to Old Saxon rēda, Old Norse reith

Derived forms of road

  • roadless, adjective

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with road

road

In addition to the idioms beginning with road

  • road hog
  • road show
  • road to hell is paved with good intentions, the

also see:

  • all roads lead to Rome
  • down the line (road)
  • end of the line (road)
  • get the show on the road
  • hit the road
  • one for the road
  • on the road

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.