/ leɪn; NAmE / noun
1.
a narrow road in the country :
winding country lanes
We drove along a muddy lane to reach the farmhouse.
—see also memory lane
2.
(especially in place names) a street, often a narrow one with buildings on both sides :
The quickest way is through the back lanes behind the bus station.
Park Lane
3.
a section of a wide road, that is marked by painted white lines, to keep lines of traffic separate :
the inside / middle lane
the northbound / southbound lane
to change lanes
She signalled and pulled over into the slow lane.
a four-lane highway
—see also bus lane , cycle lane , fast lane , outside lane , passing lane
4.
a narrow marked section of a track or a swimming pool that is used by one person taking part in a race :
The Australian in lane four is coming up fast from behind.
—picture at hurdling
5.
a route used by ships or aircraft on regular journeys :
one of the world's busiest shipping / sea lanes
•
IDIOMS
see fast lane
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English , related to Dutch laan ; of unknown ultimate origin.