tread

UK: /ˈtrɛd/ US: /trɛd/ ,(tred)

Inflections of 'tread' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

treads

v 3rd person singular

treading

v pres p

trod

v past

trodden

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

tread /trɛd/   v., trod/trɑd/  trod•den /ˈtrɑdən/  or trod, tread•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to set down the foot in walking;
   step: [no object]
   to tread softly on the stairs.
   [~ + object]
   Many pilgrims have trod this same street to the holy shrine.
2. to step or walk, esp. so as to press or injure something;
   trample:
   [~ + on/upon + object] The boys just trod on the flowers.
3. to treat harshly;
   oppress:
   [no object] The despot trod down his enemies.

n. [countable]

4. the action of treading.
5. the sound of footsteps:
   We heard her measured tread.
6. Automotive, Transport the part of a wheel or tire that rests on the road, rail, etc.:
   worn treads.

Idioms

7. Idioms tread on someone's toes, to offend someone.
8. Idioms tread water. 
   • Sport to keep the body straight up in the water with the head above the surface, usually by a pumping up-and-down movement of the legs and sometimes the arms.
   • to maintain one's position without making any progress:
     During the recession the company was barely able to tread water.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

tread (tred),  v., trod, trod•den or trod, tread•ing, n. 

v.i. 

1. to set down the foot or feet in walking;
   step;
   walk.
2. to step, walk, or trample so as to press, crush, or injure something (usually fol. by on or upon):
   to tread on a person's foot.
3. (of a male bird) to copulate.

v.t. 

4. to step or walk on, about, in, or along.
5. to trample or crush underfoot.
6. to form by the action of walking or trampling:
   to tread a path.
7. to treat with disdainful harshness or cruelty;
   crush;
   oppress.
8. to perform by walking or dancing:
   to tread a measure.
9. (of a male bird) to copulate with (a female bird).
10. tread on someone's toes or corns, to offend or irritate someone.
11. tread the boards, to act on the stage, esp. professionally:
    He recalled the days when he had trod the boards.
12. tread water:
    • [Swimming.] to maintain the body erect in the water with the head above the surface usually by a pumping up-and-down movement of the legs and sometimes the arms.
    • [Slang.] to make efforts that maintain but do not further one's status, progress, or performance:
      He's just treading water here until he can find another job.

n. 

13. the action of treading, stepping, or walking.
14. the sound of footsteps.
15. manner of treading or walking.
16. a single step as in walking.
17. any of various things or parts on which a person or thing treads, stands, or moves.
18. the part of the under surface of the foot or of a shoe that touches the ground.
19. the horizontal upper surface of a step in a stair, on which the foot is placed.
20. the part of a wheel, tire, or runner that bears on the road, rail, etc. See diag. under tire².
21. the pattern raised on or cut into the face of a rubber tire.
22. See caterpillar tread.
23. [Railroads.] that part of a rail in contact with the treads of wheels.

• bef. 900; (verb, verbal) Middle English treden, Old English tredan; cognate with Old Frisian treda, Old Saxon tredan, Dutch treden, German treten; akin to Old Norse trotha, Gothic trudan; (noun, nominal) Middle English tred footprint, derivative of the verb, verbal

tread ′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

tread / trɛd/ verb (treads, treading, trod, trodden, trod)

1. to walk or trample in, on, over, or across (something)
2. when intr, followed by on: to crush or squash by or as if by treading
3. (intransitive) sometimes followed by on: to subdue or repress, as by doing injury (to)
4. (transitive) to do by walking or dancing: to tread a measure
5. (transitive) (of a male bird) to copulate with (a female bird)
6. tread lightly ⇒ to proceed with delicacy or tact
7. tread water ⇒ to stay afloat in an upright position by moving the legs in a walking motion

noun

1. a manner or style of walking, dancing, etc: a light tread
2. the act of treading
3. the top surface of a step in a staircase
4. the outer part of a tyre or wheel that makes contact with the road, esp the grooved surface of a pneumatic tyre
5. the part of a rail that wheels touch
6. the part of a shoe that is generally in contact with the ground
7. a rare word for footprint

Etymology: Old English tredan; related to Old Norse trotha, Old High German tretan, Swedish träda

ˈtreader noun