verb
tread
trehd
verb
1
To walk or step, especially in a particular manner.
"He trod carefully across the icy pavement."
"Tread lightly — the floorboards are weak here."
noun
1
The patterned grooves on a tire or shoe sole that provide grip.
"The tires had almost no tread left."
2
The sound or manner of someone walking.
"She recognized his heavy tread on the stairs."
How to Use Tread
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo tread is to walk or step somewhere; a tread is also the grippy pattern on a tire or shoe.
Common mistake
The phrase "tread carefully/lightly" means to act with caution, not literally about footsteps.
Common pairings
tread carefully
tread water
tire tread
tread lightly
Word Forms
trod past tense, tread past tense, treaded past tense, trodden past tense, treads plural, treads singular
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_____ lightly — the floorboards are weak here.
Etymology
From Old English tredan, "to step on."