n.
Pronunciation: ' wo ̇ k
Function: verb
Etymology: partly from Middle English walken (past welk, past participle walken ), from Old English wealcan to roll, toss, journey about (past weolc, past participle wealcen ) and partly from Middle English walkien (past walked, past participle walked ), from Old English wealcian to roll up, muffle up; akin to Middle Dutch walken to knead, press, full
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a obsolete : ROAM , WANDER b of a spirit : to move about in visible form : APPEAR c of a ship : to make headway
2 a : to move along on foot : advance by steps b : to come or go easily or readily c : to go on foot for exercise or pleasure d : to go at a walk
3 a : to pursue a course of action or way of life : conduct oneself : BEHAVE < walk warily> b : to be or act in association : continue in union <the British and American peoples will ⋯ walk together side by side ⋯ in peace ― Sir Winston Churchill> c : WALK OUT < walk ed over problems with management>
4 : to go to first base as a result of a base on balls
5 of an inanimate object a : to move in a manner that is suggestive of walking b : to stand with an appearance suggestive of strides <pylons walk ing across the valley>
6 of an astronaut : to move about in space outside a spacecraft
7 : to avoid criminal prosecution or conviction < walk ed on a technicality>
transitive verb
1 a : to pass on foot or as if on foot through, along, over, or upon : TRAVERSE , PERAMBULATE < walk the streets> < walk a tightrope> b : to perform or accomplish by going on foot < walk guard>
2 a : to cause (an animal) to go at a walk : take for a walk < walk ing a dog> b (1) : to cause to move by walking < walk ed her bicycle up the hill> (2) : to haul (as an anchor) by walking round the capstan
3 : to follow on foot for the purpose of measuring, surveying, or inspecting < walk a boundary>
4 a : to accompany on foot : walk with < walk ed her home> b : to compel to walk (as by a command) c : to bring to a specified condition by walking < walk ed us off our feet>
5 : to move (an object) in a manner suggestive of walking
6 : to perform (a dance) at a walking pace < walk a quadrille>
7 : to give a base on balls to
– walk away from
1 : to outrun or get the better of without difficulty
2 : to survive (an accident) with little or no injury
3 : to give up or leave behind willingly : ABANDON
– walk off with
1 a : to steal and take away b : to take over unexpectedly from someone else : STEAL 1D < walked off with the show>
2 : to win or gain especially by outdoing one's competitors without difficulty
– walk on : to take advantage of : ABUSE
– walk on eggshells or walk on eggs : to exercise extreme caution
– walk over : to treat contemptuously
– walk the plank
1 : to walk under compulsion over the side of a ship into the sea
2 : to resign an office or position under compulsion
– walk through
1 : to go through (as a theatrical role or familiar activity) perfunctorily (as in an early stage of rehearsal)
2 : to guide (as a novice) through an unfamiliar or complex procedure step-by-step
3 : to deal with or carry out perfunctorily