1. Walk heavily or roughly
   "The soldiers trod across the fields";
   - trample
    
2. Put down or press the foot, place the foot
   "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread";
   - step
    
3. Crush as if by treading on
   "tread grapes to make wine"
    
4. Apply (the tread) to a tire
   "The factory will tread the new tires before shipping them"
    
5. Brace (an archer's bow) by pressing the foot against the centre
   "Archers should tread the bow before taking aim"
    
6. Mate with (used of male birds)
   "male birds tread the females"

1. The grooved surface of a pneumatic tire
   "The new snow tires had an aggressive tread pattern for improved traction in winter conditions"
    
2. The part (as of a wheel or shoe) that makes contact with the ground
   "The hiking boots had a deep tread for better grip on rocky terrain"
    
3. Structural member consisting of the horizontal part of a stair or step
   "The carpenter carefully measured each tread to ensure the staircase was even and safe"
    
4. A step in walking or running
   "The steady tread of marching soldiers filled the air";
   - pace, stride
    
5. The top of a step on a staircase
   "He slipped on the worn tread of the old wooden stairs"

Derived forms: treads, trod, treading, trodden

Type of: apply, brace, contact, copulate, couple, crush, give, go, locomote, mash, mate, move, pair, squash, squeeze, squelch, squidge [informal], squish [informal], step, structural member, surface, tangency, travel, walk

Part of: pneumatic tire [N. Amer], pneumatic tyre [Brit], stair, step, walk, walking

Encyclopedia: Tread