boulevard

The word “boulevard” means a wide, tree-lined street, often with a landscaped strip down the middle or along the sides. In plain terms, a broad, often grand, tree-lined street.

“Boulevard” is pronounced BOO-luh-vahd (/ˈbʊ.lə.vɑɹd/ in IPA).

Here is “boulevard” used in a sentence: “They strolled down the boulevard past cafes and plane trees.”

“Boulevard” is a noun.

The word “boulevard” comes from French. From French boulevard, originally meaning a city rampart, from a Germanic word related to "bulwark" — the wide streets were often built where old fortress walls once stood.

“Boulevard” is an uncommon word in modern English.

A boulevard is specifically a wide street that is typically tree-lined and often features a landscaped strip running down the middle or along its sides. A regular street is a more general term that does not imply any particular width or landscaping.

A boulevard is defined mainly by its width and tree-lined, landscaped character, while an avenue is a broader term often used for a grand or straight thoroughfare, sometimes lined with trees as well. In practice the two terms overlap significantly and are often used interchangeably in city naming conventions.

Boulevards are named for their physical form, a wide, tree-lined road, so cities frequently choose the term for their grandest or most scenic streets. This is why prominent avenues in many cities carry "Boulevard" in their official name.