traverse
truh-VURS
Traverse (verb) means to travel across or through something, often under difficult conditions. Example: “The climbers traversed the icy ridge before reaching the summit.”
verb
1
To travel across or through something, often under difficult conditions.
"The climbers traversed the icy ridge before reaching the summit."
2
To move sideways across a slope rather than straight up or down it.
"Skiers traversed the steep slope to control their speed."
noun
1
A route or path that crosses an area, especially in mountaineering.
"The trail includes a narrow traverse along the cliff face."
How to use traverse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cross or travel across something, often a difficult route, or the path itself.
Common pairings
traverse a mountain
traverse the terrain
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Word forms
- Plural
- traverses
- Third person singular
- traverses
- Past tense
- traversed
- Comparative
- more traverse
- Superlative
- most traverse
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The climbers _____ the icy ridge before reaching the summit.
Etymology
From Old French traverser, from Latin trans ("across") plus versus, the past participle of vertere ("to turn").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for traverse
See all rhymes for traverse →Frequently asked questions
What does “traverse” mean?
The word “traverse” means to travel across or through something, often under difficult conditions. In plain terms, to cross or travel across something, often a difficult route, or the path itself.
How do you pronounce “traverse”?
“Traverse” is pronounced truh-VURS (/tɹəˈvɝs/ in IPA).
How do you use “traverse” in a sentence?
Here is “traverse” used in a sentence: “The climbers traversed the icy ridge before reaching the summit.”
What part of speech is “traverse”?
Depending on how it is used, “traverse” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “traverse” come from?
The word “traverse” comes from Latin. From Old French traverser, from Latin trans ("across") plus versus, the past participle of vertere ("to turn").
Is “traverse” a common word?
“Traverse” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “traverse” have?
“Traverse” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to travel across or through something, often under difficult conditions.
