verb

traverse

truh-VURS

verb

To travel across or through something, often under difficult conditions.

"The climbers traversed the icy ridge before reaching the summit."

To move sideways across a slope rather than straight up or down it.

"Skiers traversed the steep slope to control their speed."

noun

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 notes

In plain EnglishTo cross or travel across something, often a difficult route, or the path itself.

Common pairings

traverse a mountain traverse the terrain

Word Forms

more traverse comparative, more traverse comparative, traversed past tense, traverses plural, Traverses plural, traverses singular, most traverse superlative, most traverse superlative

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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").

Rhymes for traverse

verse averse inverse reverse adverse diverse immerse universe converse perverse disperse multiverse

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