n.
Pronunciation: ' w ā d
Function: verb
Inflected Form: wad · ed ; wad · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English wadan; akin to Old High German watan to go, wade, Latin vadere to go
Date: 13th century
intransitive verb
1 : to step in or through a medium (as water) offering more resistance than air
2 : to move or proceed with difficulty or labor < wade through the crowd> < wade through all the evidence>
3 : to set to work or attack with determination or vigor ― used with in or into < wade into a task>
transitive verb : to pass or cross by wading
– wad · able or wade · able \ ' w ā -d ə -b ə l \ adjective