noun
roads
rohdz
noun
1
A sheltered stretch of water near the coast where ships can safely anchor.
"The fleet waited in the roads outside the harbour for the tide to turn."
How to Use Roads
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA nautical term for a safe anchorage near shore — not the everyday plural of "road" (street).
Common mistake
This nautical sense is rarely used outside sailing contexts; don't confuse it with the ordinary plural of "road."
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The fleet waited in the _____ outside the harbour for the tide to turn.
Etymology
The plural of an old nautical sense of "road," meaning an anchorage rather than a route for vehicles.