tread
/tred/ (bre, ipa) · /tred/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtred/ (ame, mw)
tread — verb
- treadpresent simple I / you / we / they
- treadshe / she / it
- trodpast simple
- troddenpast participle
- treading-ing form
1. to place your foot on the ground or onto an object, often by accident or while m
to place your foot on the ground or onto an object, often by accident or while moving over a surface.
Sari apologised after she trod on the cat's tail in the dark hallway.
tread on + body part / object
Please don't tread on the freshly painted wooden floor near the door.
negative imperative with tread on
Rohan trod mud all over the kitchen tiles after the long hike.
The hikers were warned not to tread on the wildflowers along the narrow trail.
Camille felt something crunch when she trod on a dry leaf in the woods.
文法句型
tread on something
tread something into something
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'on' plus a thing or person; can also be transitive with an object being pressed into a surface (e.g. tread mud into the carpet).
常見錯誤
2. to move along on foot, often in a particular manner, or to walk a specific path
to move along on foot, often in a particular manner, or to walk a specific path or street; a slightly literary way of saying 'walk'.
Yael trod softly through the nursery so the baby would not wake.
tread + manner adverb (softly / lightly)
The poet wrote about treading the same streets his grandfather had walked.
tread + definite path (literary)
Visitors must tread carefully when entering the ancient temple grounds.
Vikram trod heavily down the corridor, still angry from the meeting.
Hikers have been treading this mountain path for over a hundred years.
文法句型
tread + adverb (lightly / softly)
tread + path / streets
用法筆記
More formal or literary than 'walk'; usually paired with a manner adverb ('softly', 'heavily', 'carefully') or a noun for the place walked ('the streets', 'the same path'). Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on the act of walking, not on pressing one specific spot with the foot.
常見錯誤
3. in the fixed expression 'tread water': to stay upright in deep water with the he
in the fixed expression 'tread water': to stay upright in deep water with the head above the surface, by turning the legs in slow circles and pushing the hands sideways, without swimming forward.
Andrés had to tread water for ten minutes before the rescue boat reached him.
tread water + duration
The swimming teacher showed the children how to tread water in the deep end.
tread water as a learnable skill
Lisa treaded water near the diving board while she waited for her friend.
Tired from the long swim, Quinn started treading water beside the buoy.
Our company has just been treading water since the new manager arrived, with no real progress.
- stay afloat
more general; doesn't specify the leg-and-arm movement
文法句型
tread water
用法筆記
The past tense in this idiom is usually 'treaded water', not 'trod water' — this is the one exception to the irregular pattern. The phrase also has a common figurative use meaning 'to stay in the same place without making progress'.
常見錯誤
4. to defeat, control, or destroy a person, group, or feeling by treating them as i
to defeat, control, or destroy a person, group, or feeling by treating them as if they were dirt under your foot; a forceful, often figurative use.
The new law treads on the rights of small business owners across the country.
tread on + abstract noun (rights / hopes)
For decades, the regime trod its political opponents underfoot without any consequence.
tread + object + underfoot
Defne refused to let her dreams be trodden down by her uncle's harsh words.
The protesters said the government was treading on their freedom of speech.
Christopher would not allow his quiet hopes to be trodden into the dust by criticism.
- respect
opposite attitude toward rights or feelings
文法句型
tread something underfoot
tread on someone's rights / hopes
用法筆記
Almost always figurative in modern use; the object is typically an abstract noun (rights, dreams, hopes, freedom) or a group of people. Distinguish from sense 1: that sense is about the literal foot action; this sense is about suppression. Frequently passive ('be trodden down', 'be trodden underfoot').
常見錯誤
tread — noun
- treadsingular
- treadsplural
1. the lines and grooves cut into the surface of a tyre, designed to grip the road
the lines and grooves cut into the surface of a tyre, designed to grip the road and stop the wheels from slipping.
The mechanic told Iker that his front tyres had almost no tread left.
have / leave tread (idiomatic measure)
Winter tyres usually have deeper tread than summer ones for better grip on snow.
deep / shallow tread + reason
You can see the tread pattern clearly in the mud behind the truck.
Police checked the tread on the suspect's car tyres for evidence at the scene.
Antonia replaced her bicycle tyres because the tread was almost gone.
- tyre pattern
more descriptive; everyday alternative
文法句型
the tread of a tyre
deep / worn tread
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when talking about the amount of pattern remaining ('how much tread is left'); countable when referring to a specific design ('a new tread design'). Distinguish from sense 4: this sense is the carved pattern itself, not the whole contact surface of the tyre.
2. the noise that someone's feet make as they walk, especially when it can be clear
the noise that someone's feet make as they walk, especially when it can be clearly heard.
Nora recognised her father's heavy tread on the stairs and ran to greet him.
heavy / light tread + on the stairs
The soft tread of the nurse's shoes barely woke the sleeping patient.
soft tread + body of person
Soldiers marched past with a steady tread that echoed through the empty square.
Hannah heard the slow tread of someone approaching her office door.
文法句型
heavy / soft tread
the tread of someone's feet
用法筆記
Sounds literary or formal; in everyday speech, people usually say 'the sound of footsteps'. Distinguish from sense 5: this sense focuses on the audible noise made by feet, while sense 5 focuses on the manner or action of walking itself.
3. the flat top of a single step on a staircase — the part you actually place your
the flat top of a single step on a staircase — the part you actually place your foot on when going up or down.
Walid measured the tread of each stair before fitting the new wooden boards.
tread + of + stair (architecture)
Wide treads make a staircase feel safer for elderly visitors.
wide / narrow tread + safety claim
The old church staircase had stone treads worn smooth by centuries of feet.
Building codes specify a minimum tread depth for stairs in public buildings.
- step
everyday word; covers both the tread and the riser together
- riser
the vertical face of a stair, opposite of the horizontal tread
文法句型
the tread of a stair / step
用法筆記
Used by builders, architects, and DIY enthusiasts; pairs naturally with 'riser' (the vertical face of a step). The pattern 'tread depth' is the standard technical measurement.
4. the whole underside of a tyre, shoe, or boot — the area that comes into contact
the whole underside of a tyre, shoe, or boot — the area that comes into contact with the floor or road during normal use.
Mud and small stones were stuck across the tread of Sumin's hiking boots.
tread of + footwear + foreign matter
The tread of the front tyre had picked up a nail from the building site.
tread of + tyre + picked-up object
Anya wiped the tread of her trainers before stepping onto the white carpet.
Snow had packed into the tread of every boot in the cabin doorway.
- sole
for shoes only; the bottom of a shoe
文法句型
the tread of a tyre / shoe / boot
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: that sense is the carved pattern only; this sense is the whole bottom surface — pattern plus the rubber or material around it. Often used when something is stuck to or removed from the surface.
5. the particular style or manner in which a person walks, including the rhythm and
the particular style or manner in which a person walks, including the rhythm and weight of their steps.
Élise had a light, dancer's tread that made her seem to glide across the room.
adjective + tread describing manner
The detective recognised the visitor by his confident tread alone.
tread as identifier of person
Nala walked with a slow, careful tread after her ankle surgery.
There was something familiar about the old man's tread as he came up the path.
文法句型
someone's tread
a + adjective + tread
用法筆記
Literary and somewhat old-fashioned; everyday English uses 'walk' (noun) or 'gait' for the same idea. Distinguish from sense 2: that sense is about the sound of the feet, this sense is about the visible style of walking.