path

A path is a route that's meant for walking. You might follow a path up a mountain as you hike, or follow a winding path throughout your life.

Paths are often created by people's feet wearing a trail into the ground or through the snow, for example. You can also create a path by laying flat stones in line through a yard or around a garden. Another kind of path is the route something takes as it moves, like a speedboat's path in the water or, figuratively, the path your life takes as you grow older.

Definitions of path
  1. noun
    an established line of travel or access
    synonyms: itinerary, route
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    examples:
    Northwest Passage
    a water route between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean along the northern coast of North America; Europeans since the 16th century had searched for a short route to the Far East before it was successfully traversed by Roald Amundsen (1903-1906)
    Silk Road
    an ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean (4,000 miles); followed by Marco Polo in the 13th century to reach Cathay
    types:
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    feeder line
    a branching path off of a main transportation line (especially an airline)
    main line
    the principal route of a transportation system
    data track, track
    (computer science) one of the circular magnetic paths on a magnetic disk that serve as a guide for writing and reading data
    air lane, airway, flight path, skyway
    a designated route followed by airplanes in flying from one airport to another
    approach pattern, pattern, traffic pattern
    the path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport
    flight path
    the path of a rocket or projectile or aircraft through the air
    beat, round
    a regular route for a sentry or policeman
    bus route
    the route regularly followed by a passenger bus
    line of flight
    the path along which a freely moving object travels through the air
    line of march
    the route along which a column advances
    celestial orbit, orbit
    the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
    electron orbit, orbit
    the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
    paper round, paper route
    the route taken when delivering newspapers every day
    beeline
    the most direct route
    circuit
    an established itinerary of venues or events that a particular group of people travel to
    crosscut
    a diagonal path
    supply line, supply route
    a route over which supplies can be delivered
    line of fire
    the path of a missile discharged from a firearm
    flyway, migration route
    the geographic route along which birds customarily migrate
    fairway
    the usual course taken by vessels through a harbor or coastal waters
    direction, way
    a line leading to a place or point
    trade route
    a route followed by traders (usually in caravans)
    approach, approach path, glide path, glide slope
    the final path followed by an aircraft as it is landing
    holding pattern
    the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land
    geosynchronous orbit
    a circular orbit around the Earth having a period of 24 hours
    aim, bearing, heading
    the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
    course, trend
    general line of orientation
    east-west direction
    in a direction parallel with lines of latitude
    north-south direction
    in a direction parallel with lines of longitude
    qibla
    the direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for their daily prayers
    tendency, trend
    a general direction in which something tends to move
    type of:
    line
    a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
  2. noun
    a line or route along which something travels or moves
    “the hurricane demolished houses in its path”
    synonyms: course, track
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    types:
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    collision course
    a course of a moving object that will lead to a collision if it continues unchanged
    inside track
    the inner side of a curved racecourse
    round
    the course along which communications spread
    steps
    the course along which a person has walked or is walking in
    belt, swath
    a path or strip (as cut by one course of mowing)
    trail
    a track or mark left by something that has passed
    slot
    the trail of an animal (especially a deer)
    spoor
    the trail left by a person or an animal; what the hunter follows in pursuing game
    type of:
    line
    a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
  3. noun
    a way especially designed for a particular use
    see moresee less
    examples:
    Saint Lawrence Seaway
    a seaway involving the Saint Lawrence River and the Great Lakes that was developed jointly by Canada and the United States; oceangoing ships can travel as far west as Lake Superior
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    bridle path, bridle road
    a path suitable for riding or leading horses (but not for cars)
    crossing, crossover, crosswalk
    a path (often marked) where something (as a street or railroad) can be crossed to get from one side to the other
    lane
    a well-defined track or path; for e.g. swimmers or lines of traffic
    footpath, pathway
    a trodden path
    towing path, towpath
    a path along a canal or river used by animals towing boats
    paseo, walk, walkway
    a path set aside for walking
    ambulatory
    a covered walkway (as in a cloister)
    boardwalk
    a walkway made of wooden boards; usually at seaside
    alley, bowling alley, skittle alley
    a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins
    catwalk
    narrow pathway high in the air (as above a stage or between parts of a building or along a bridge)
    flagging
    a walk of flagstones
    free throw lane
    a lane on a basketball court extending from the end line to 15 feet in front of the backboard; players may not enter this lane during a free throw
    grade separation
    a crossing that uses an underpass or overpass
    pedestrian crossing, zebra crossing
    street crossing where pedestrians have right of way; often marked in some way (especially with diagonal stripes)
    mall, promenade
    a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
    sea lane, seaway, ship route, trade route
    a lane at sea that is a regularly used route for vessels
    pavement, sidewalk
    walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
    skywalk
    an elevated walkway between buildings (usually enclosed)
    traffic lane
    a lane of a main road that is defined by painted lines
    type of:
    way
    any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another
  4. noun
    a course of conduct
    “the path of virtue”
    “our paths in life led us apart”
    “genius usually follows a revolutionary path”
    synonyms: way, way of life
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    types:
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    ambages
    (archaic) roundabout or mysterious ways of action
    primrose path
    a life of ease and pleasure
    straight and narrow, strait and narrow
    the way of proper and honest behavior
    Sunna, Sunnah, hadith
    (Islam) the way of life prescribed as normative for Muslims on the basis of the teachings and practices of Muhammad and interpretations of the Koran
    warpath
    a course leading to warfare or battle
    type of:
    course, course of action
    a mode of action
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