Webster's English Dictionary

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tread

1. tread \'tred\ \'tra:d\ \'tra:d-*n\ vb or trod;  or trod.den;  or trod or 
   tread.ing [ME treden, fr. OE tredan; akin to OHG tretan to tread] 1a: to 
   step or walk on or over  1b: to walk along : FOLLOW  2a: to beat or press 
   with the feet : TRAMPLE  2b: to subdue or repress as if by trampling : 
   CRUSH  3: to copulate with - used of a male bird  4a: to form by treading : 
   BEAT {~ a path}  4b: to execute by stepping or dancing {~ a measure}  1: to 
   move on foot : WALK  2a: to set foot  2b: to put one's foot : STEP  3: 
   COPULATE  : to keep the body nearly upright in the water and the head above 
   water by  a treading motion of the feet usu. aided by the hands - tread.er 
   n
2. tread n 1: a mark made by or as if by treading  2a1: the action of 
   treading  2a2: an act or instance of treading : STEP  2b: manner of 
   stepping  2c: the sound of treading  3: CHALAZA  4a1: the part of a sole 
   that touches the ground  4a2: the part of a wheel that bears on a road or 
   rail; esp : the th ickened face of an automobile tire 4b: the design on a 
   tread  5: the distance between the points of contact with the ground of the 
   two fr ont wheels or the two rear wheels of a vehicle 6a: the upper 
   horizontal part of a step  6b: the width of such a tread