I. inroad ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: in (IV) + road
1. : a sudden hostile incursion or forcible entrance : raid , foray
protecting their crops of barley from the inroads of sparrows — J.G.Frazer
their new homes would be reserved to them against future inroads by whites — P.W.Gates
2. : an advance or penetration especially at the expense of something or someone : a serious encroachment
another sharp inroad on the principle of free speech — Civil Liberties
the inroads of the conformist spirit on American literary life — C.J.Rolo
make inroads on the domestic markets of their local competitors — Patrick McMahon
synthetic materials made deep inroads into the use of leather — J.F.W.Anderson
II. in·road ə̇n+ verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to make an inroad into
intransitive verb
: to make inroads