1.
A ~ path is used regularly by a large number of people, and therefore looks worn and is easy to see.
He made his way along a ~ path towards the shed.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
2.
You can use ~, especially in expressions such as a ~ path and ~ ground, to indicate that a plan or course of action has been tried by a lot of people and so the result of it is easy to predict.
Political power has long been a ~ path to personal wealth...
These working parties will be going over ~ ground.
ADJ: usu ADJ n