/ wɔːk; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move or go somewhere by putting one foot in front of the other on the ground, but without running :
[ v ]
The baby is just learning to walk.
'How did you get here?' 'I walked.'
He walked slowly away from her.
The door opened and Jo walked in.
She missed the bus and had to walk home.
The school is within easy walking distance of the train station.
[ vn ]
Children here walk several miles to school.
2.
(also go walking ) (both especially BrE ) to spend time walking for pleasure :
[ v ]
We're going walking in the mountains this summer.
I walked across Scotland with a friend.
[ vn ]
They love walking the moors.
3.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] to go somewhere with sb on foot, especially in order to make sure they get there safely :
He always walked her home.
4.
[ vn ] to take an animal for a walk; to make an animal walk somewhere :
They walk their dogs every day.
5.
[ v ] ( informal ) to disappear; to be taken away :
Lock up any valuables. Things tend to walk here (= be stolen) .
6.
[ v ] ( literary ) ( of a ghost ) to appear
•
IDIOMS
- run before you can walk
- walk the beat
- walk free
- walk it
- walk sb off their feet
- walk off the job
- walk the plank
- walk the streets
- walk tall
- walk the walk
—more at air noun , aisle , line noun , memory lane , thin adjective , tightrope
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- walk away (from sb/sth)
- walk away with sth
- walk in on sb/sth
- walk into sth
- walk into sth/sb
- walk off
- walk sth off
- walk off with sth
- walk out
- walk out (of sth)
- walk out (on sb)
- walk out (on sth)
- walk (all) over sb
—related noun walkover
- walk sb through sth
- walk up (to sb/sth)
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a journey on foot, usually for pleasure or exercise :
Let's go for a walk .
I like to have a walk in the evenings.
She's taken the dog for a walk .
He set out on the long walk home.
The office is ten minutes' walk from here.
a ten-minute walk
It's only a short walk to the beach.
2.
[ C ] a path or route for walking, usually for pleasure; an organized event when people walk for pleasure :
a circular walk
There are some interesting walks in the area.
a guided walk around the farm
3.
[ sing. ] a way or style of walking; the act or speed of walking rather than running :
I recognized him by his walk.
The horse slowed to a walk.
4.
[ C ] ( NAmE ) a sidewalk or path
•
IDIOMS
- a walk of life
••
VOCABULARY BUILDING
ways of walking
creep
He could hear someone creeping around downstairs.
limp
One player limped off the field with a twisted ankle.
pace
I found him in the corridor nervously pacing up and down.
pad
She spent the morning padding about the house in her slippers.
plod
They wearily plodded home through the rain.
shuffle
The queue gradually shuffled forward.
stagger
They staggered out of the pub, completely drunk.
stomp
She stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.
stroll
Families were strolling around the park.
tiptoe
They tiptoed upstairs so they wouldn't wake the baby.
trudge
We trudged up the hill.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English wealcan roll, toss , also wander , of Germanic origin. The sense move about , and specifically go about on foot , arose in Middle English .