noun
Common
roads
rohdz
Roads (noun) means a sheltered stretch of water near the coast where ships can safely anchor. Example: “The fleet waited in the roads outside the harbour for the tide to turn.”
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."
"Several yachts rode at anchor in the roads until the storm passed."
"The captain steered the ship into the roads to wait for a berth."
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for roads
See all rhymes for roads →Frequently asked questions
What does “roads” mean?
The word “roads” means a sheltered stretch of water near the coast where ships can safely anchor. In plain terms, a nautical term for a safe anchorage near shore — not the everyday plural of "road" (street).
How do you pronounce “roads”?
“Roads” is pronounced rohdz (/ɹoʊdz/ in IPA).
How do you use “roads” in a sentence?
Here is “roads” used in a sentence: “The fleet waited in the roads outside the harbour for the tide to turn.”
What part of speech is “roads”?
“Roads” is a noun.
Is “roads” a common word?
“Roads” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between roads and a harbor?
In this nautical sense, roads — also called a roadstead — is an open but sheltered stretch of water near shore where ships can anchor safely. A harbor offers fuller protection, often enclosed by land or breakwaters and fitted with docks. Roads give shelter without the enclosed facilities of a true harbor.
Why are roads important?
A roadstead lets ships lie at anchor in reasonable safety when a harbor is full, unavailable, or too shallow to enter. Vessels can wait there for a berth, a tide, or a pilot, or transfer cargo offshore. For centuries such sheltered waters have been vital stopping points along coastal shipping routes.
What is an example of roads?
Several famous anchorages carry this name, such as the Downs off the English coast and Hampton Roads in Virginia, where ships have long sheltered. The term also appears in the fuller form roadstead. Any sheltered coastal water regularly used for anchoring can be described as roads.
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