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

n an established line of travel or access

Synonyms:
itinerary, route
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:
show 31 types...
hide 31 types...
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

n a line or route along which something travels or moves

“the hurricane demolished houses in its path”
Synonyms:
course, track
Types:
show 8 types...
hide 8 types...
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

n a way especially designed for a particular use

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
Types:
show 19 types...
hide 19 types...
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

n 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
Types:
show 5 types...
hide 5 types...
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

Sign up, it's free!

Whether you're a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, Vocabulary.com can put you on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.