avenue

UK: /ˈævɪnjuː/ US: /ˈævəˌnju, -ˌnu/ ,(av′ə nyo̅o̅′, -no̅o̅′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

av•e•nue /ˈævəˌnyu, -ˌnu/   n. [countable]

1. a wide street or main road.
2. a way or means of getting to or from something:
   avenues of escape.

See -ven-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

av•e•nue  (av′ə nyo̅o̅′, -no̅o̅′), n. 

1. a wide street or main thoroughfare.
2. a means of access or attainment:
   avenues of escape; avenues to greater power.
3. a way or means of entering into or approaching a place:
   the various avenues to India.
4. British Terms [Chiefly Brit.]
   • a wide, usually tree-lined road, path, driveway, etc., through grounds to a country house or monumental building.
   • a suburban, usually tree-lined residential street.

• Latin advenīre to come to. See a-⁵, venue
• French, literally, approach, noun, nominal use of feminine past participle of avenir
• 1590–1600

Synonyms

• 1. See street. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

avenue / ˈævɪˌnjuː/ noun

1. a broad street, often lined with trees
2. (capital as part of a street name) a road, esp in a built-up area
3. a main approach road, as to a country house
4. a way bordered by two rows of trees
5. a line of approach: explore every avenue

Etymology: 17th Century: from French, from avenir to come to, from Latin advenīre, from venīre to come