I. traverse ˈ ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷ or ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ — see traverse II noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English travers; partly from Middle French traverse crosspiece, from traverser to cross, traverse & Latin transversa, feminine of transversus lying across, past participle of transvertere to turn across; partly from Middle French travers way across, passage, from Latin transversum, from neuter of transversus — more at transverse
1. : something that crosses or lies or is laid across: as
a. : crosspiece , transom
b. : bar , barrier
c. : a screen, curtain, or sliding partition placed or drawn crosswise in a room, hall, or theater
d. : a collapsible fire screen with leaves usually of pierced brass opening out like a fan from an upright standard
2. : something that opposes or impedes : obstacle , adversity
traverses, toils, and trouble
3.
a. : a formal denial of some particular matter of fact alleged by the opposite party in a stage of legal pleadings
matter was heard … on the petition, the returns, the traverses thereto — J.R.Martin
b. obsolete : dispute , controversy
4.
a. : a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen
b. : a screened stall in a church or chapel
c. : a gallery or loft of communication extending from side to side in a church or other large building
5. : a route or way across or over: as
a. : a zigzag course made by a sailing ship with contrary winds
b. : a zigzag road or course up a steep grade
c. : the course followed in a traverse (as on skis) ; also : a zigzag in such a course
6.
a. : passage , toll traverse
b. : the act or an instance of traversing : crossing
the only practicable route for human traverse — J.H.Bretz
the traverse of a gorge might … take many weeks — E.E.Shipton
their longest expeditions … have been mere traverses leaving great unexplored areas in between — Ralph Linton
c. : a horizontal or diagonal crossing of a mountainside or slope
d. : the crossing of a gap or pass from one side to the other
e. : a zigzag ascent or descent of a slope especially on skis
f. : the act or position of traversing in fencing
7. : a projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench constructed to protect the occupants from enfilading fire or to localize shell bursts
8.
a. : a traversing or lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage) ; also : a device for imparting such movement
b. : the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change the direction of fire ; also : the total possible lateral movement of a gun on its carriage
9. : a forward oblique movement of a horse with tail turned to one side and head to the other
10.
a. : traverse survey
b. : a line surveyed across a plot of ground
11. New England : bobsled 2
12. : the distance through which the yarn or roving laying device travels when winding the yarn
II. tra·verse trəˈvərs, -ˈvə̄s, -ˈvəis sometimes traˈv- or ˈtraˌv- or ˈtra_və(r)s verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English traversen, from Middle French traverser, from Late Latin transversare to cross, from Latin transversus lying across, transverse
transitive verb
1.
a. : to go against or act in opposition to : oppose
I accept nobody's precepts traversing my moral freedom — George Santayana
since demands traverse each other we have to make a choice — H.J.Laski
b.
(1) : to deny (an allegation of fact) formally at law
(2) : to deny or take issue upon (an indictment)
(3) : to deny or impeach the validity of (an inquest of office)
c. obsolete : discuss , debate
2.
a. : to pass through (something) : penetrate
gladness traverses his being
b. archaic : to cross or mark with a line, bar, or stripe
3.
a. : to go or travel across or over
walking through the streets they had traversed two nights before — Floyd Dell
they drew close to the shore, having traversed a range of lofty hills — Elinor Wylie
little water traverses the steep rocky course of the river bed — N.R.Heiden
the old community is traversed by heavy traffic — American Guide Series: Connecticut
b. : to move along or through (something)
the current traversing the lamp is simply a migration of electrons — K.K.Darrow
c. : to advance or go through (as a time or an area of activity)
the revolutionary period the world is traversing — André Mesnard
the journeying of the individual scientist if he chooses to traverse the scientific circle — F.A.Geldard
traversing new paths in the area of city planning — C.H.Sawyer
d. : to go over, consider, or make a study of : examine , survey
traverses … the now century-old arguments against the well-known traditional dogmas — Irwin Edman
a period … more thoroughly traversed by historians — R.B.Morris
a wide area of investigation, only partially traversed in recent decades — René Wellek & Austin Warren
e. : to lie or extend across (something) : cross
a small bridge which traverses a rivulet — George Borrow
a well-kept lawn traversed by concrete walks — American Guide Series: New Jersey
the principal islands are traversed by large rivers — W.C.Forbes
a career which … traverses the whole scope of business opportunities — A.W.McCain
f. : to draw or construct (a geometrical figure) with one continuous stroke
4. : to go or move to and fro over or along
continued a long time traversing my bedchamber — Mary W. Shelley
specifically : to ascend, descend, or cross (a slope or gap) by means of a traverse
the climber traversing the face of the cliff
5. : to move or turn (something) laterally or crosswise ; specifically : to move (as a gun) to right or left on a pivot or mount
so jammed … that it was impossible to traverse the gun turrets — E.J.Kohn
6. : to plane (wood) across the grain especially as a preliminary to trying up a board or floor
7. : to make or carry out a traverse survey of
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to move or go across or along
deep in thought he traverses to and fro
watching cars traversing along the highway
a glass tube which traverses up and down the depth of the pot — H.R.Mauersberger
b. archaic : to move or shift from one topic or viewpoint to another
c. : to move or dodge from side to side
the boxer traverses cunningly
2. : to move or turn laterally : swivel , pivot
the gun traverses smoothly on its bearings
3. : to execute a traverse on horseback
4. : to slide one's blade in fencing toward the opponent's hilt while exerting prolonged pressure on his blade
5. : to make a traverse in climbing or skiing
one can zigzag or traverse up any length of slope with the least effort — Hans Georg
6. : to make a traverse survey
Synonyms: see deny
III. traverse ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ or ˈ ̷ ̷(ˌ) ̷ ̷ — see traverse II adjective
Etymology: Middle English travers, from Middle French, from Latin transversus — more at traverse , n.
: lying or being in a direction across something else : transverse
IV. traverse adverb
Etymology: Middle English travers, from travers, adjective
obsolete : traversely