path
paths
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
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an established line of travel or access
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examples:
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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)
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types:
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feeder line
a branching path off of a main transportation line (especially an airline)
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main line
the principal route of a transportation system
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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
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air lane, airway, flight path, skyway
a designated route followed by airplanes in flying from one airport to another
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approach pattern, pattern, traffic pattern
the path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport
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flight path
the path of a rocket or projectile or aircraft through the air
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beat, round
a regular route for a sentry, police officer, or reporter
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bus route
the route regularly followed by a passenger bus
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line of flight
the path along which a freely moving object travels through the air
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line of march
the route along which a column advances
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celestial orbit, orbit
the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another
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electron orbit, orbit
the path of an electron around the nucleus of an atom
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paper round, paper route
the route taken when delivering newspapers every day
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beeline
the most direct route
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circuit
an established itinerary of venues or events that a particular group of people travel to
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crosscut
a diagonal path
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supply line, supply route
a route over which supplies can be delivered
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line of fire
the path of a missile discharged from a firearm
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flyway, migration route
the geographic route along which birds customarily migrate
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fairway
the usual course taken by vessels through a harbor or coastal waters
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direction, way
a line leading to a place or point
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trade route
a route followed by traders (usually in caravans)
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approach, approach path, glide path, glide slope
the final path followed by an aircraft as it is landing
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holding pattern
the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land
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geosynchronous orbit
a circular orbit around the Earth having a period of 24 hours
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aim, bearing, heading
the direction or path along which something moves or along which it lies
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course, trend
general line of orientation
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east-west direction
in a direction parallel with lines of latitude
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north-south direction
in a direction parallel with lines of longitude
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qibla
the direction of the Kaaba toward which Muslims turn for their daily prayers
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tendency, trend
a general direction in which something tends to move
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type of:
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line
a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
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Northwest Passage
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a line or route along which something travels or moves“the hurricane demolished houses in its path”
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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
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inside track
the inner side of a curved racecourse
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round
the course along which communications spread
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steps
the course along which a person has walked or is walking in
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belt, swath
a path or strip (as cut by one course of mowing)
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trail
a track or mark left by something that has passed
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slot
the trail of an animal (especially a deer)
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spoor
the trail left by a person or an animal; what the hunter follows in pursuing game
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type of:
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line
a spatial location defined by a real or imaginary unidimensional extent
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a way especially designed for a particular use
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types:
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bridle path, bridle road
a path suitable for riding or leading horses (but not for cars)
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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
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lane
a well-defined track or path; for e.g. swimmers or lines of traffic
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footpath, pathway
a trodden path
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towing path, towpath
a path along a canal or river used by animals towing boats
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paseo, walk, walkway
a path set aside for walking
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ambulatory
a covered walkway (as in a cloister)
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boardwalk
a walkway made of wooden boards; usually at seaside
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alley, bowling alley, skittle alley
a lane down which a bowling ball is rolled toward pins
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catwalk
narrow pathway high in the air (as above a stage or between parts of a building or along a bridge)
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flagging
a walk of flagstones
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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
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grade separation
a crossing that uses an underpass or overpass
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pedestrian crossing, zebra crossing
street crossing where pedestrians have right of way; often marked in some way (especially with diagonal stripes)
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mall, promenade
a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk
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sea lane, seaway, ship route, trade route
a lane at sea that is a regularly used route for vessels
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pavement, sidewalk
walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
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skywalk
an elevated walkway between buildings (usually enclosed)
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traffic lane
a lane of a main road that is defined by painted lines
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type of:
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way
any artifact consisting of a road or path affording passage from one place to another
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a course of conduct“the path of virtue”“our paths in life led us apart”“genius usually follows a revolutionary path”
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synonyms:
way, way of life
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types:
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ambages
(archaic) roundabout or mysterious ways of action
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primrose path
a life of ease and pleasure
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straight and narrow, strait and narrow
the way of proper and honest behavior
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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
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warpath
a course leading to warfare or battle
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type of:
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course, course of action
a mode of action
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘path'.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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