v. & n.
--v.
1. intr. walk through water or some impeding medium e.g. snow, mud, or sand.
2 intr. make one's way with difficulty or by force.
3 intr. (foll. by through) read (a book etc.) in spite of its dullness etc.
4 intr. (foll. by into) colloq. attack (a person or task) vigorously.
5 tr. ford (a stream etc.) on foot.
--n. a spell of wading.
Phrases and idioms:
wade in colloq. make a vigorous attack or intervention. wading bird any long-legged water-bird that wades.
Derivatives:
wadable adj. (also wadeable).
Etymology: OE wadan f. Gmc, go (through)