TREAD

I. verb (trod; also ~ed; trodden or trod; ~ing) Etymology: Middle English treden, from Old English tredan; akin to Old High German tretan to ~ Date: before 12th century transitive verb 1. to step or walk on or over, to walk or proceed along ; follow , 2. to beat or press with the feet ; trample , to subdue or repress as if by trampling ; crush , to copulate with, 4. to form by ~ing ; beat , to execute by stepping or dancing , intransitive verb to move or proceed on or as if on foot , 2. to set foot , to put one's foot ; step , copulate , ~er noun II. noun Date: 13th century a mark (as a footprint or the imprint of a tire) made by or as if by ~ing, 2. a. the action of ~ing, an act or instance of ~ing ; step , manner of stepping, the sound of ~ing, 3. the part of a shoe or boot sole that touches the ground, b. the part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with a road or rail, the pattern of ridges or grooves made or cut in the face of a tire, the distance between the points of contact with the ground of the two front wheels or the two rear wheels of a vehicle, 5. the upper horizontal part of a step, the width of such a ~, ~less adjective