/ ˈpæsɪdʒ; NAmE / noun
LONG NARROW WAY
1.
(also pas·sage·way / ˈpæsɪdʒweɪ; NAmE /) [ C ] a long narrow area with walls on either side that connects one room or place with another
SYN corridor :
a secret underground passage
A dark narrow passage led to the main hall.
IN THE BODY
2.
[ C ] a tube in the body through which air, liquid, etc. passes :
blocked nasal passages
—see also back passage
SECTION FROM BOOK
3.
[ C ] a short section from a book, piece of music, etc.
SYN excerpt , extract :
Read the following passage and answer the questions below.
OF TIME
4.
[ sing. ] the ~ of time ( literary ) the process of time passing :
Her confidence grew with the passage of time.
OF BILL IN PARLIAMENT
5.
[ sing. ] the process of discussing a bill in a parliament so that it can become law :
The bill is now guaranteed an easy passage through the House of Representatives.
JOURNEY BY SHIP
6.
[ sing. ] a journey from one place to another by ship :
Her grandfather had worked his passage (= worked on a ship to pay for the journey) to America.
GOING THROUGH
7.
[ sing. ] a ~ (through sth) a way through sth :
The officers forced a passage through the crowd.
8.
[ U ] ( formal ) the action of going across, through or past sth :
Large trees may obstruct the passage of light.
9.
[ U , C , usually sing. ] the permission to travel across a particular area of land :
We were promised (a) safe passage through the occupied territory.
—see also bird of passage , rite of passage
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French , based on Latin passus pace.