View synonyms for path

path

[ path, pahth ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, plural paths [pa, th, z, pah, th, z, paths, pahths].

a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals.
Synonyms: pathway, footpath
a narrow walk or way:
a path through a garden; a bicycle path.
a route, course, or track along which something moves:
the path of a hurricane.
a course of action, conduct, or procedure:
the path of righteousness.
Mathematics. a continuous curve that connects two or more points.
Computers. the sequence of steps that a computer follows in carrying out a routine, as in storing and retrieving a file at a specific location.

path-

variant of patho- before a vowel:
pathosis.

-path

a combining form occurring in personal nouns corresponding to abstract nouns ending in -pathy, with the general sense “one practicing such a treatment” ( osteopath ) or “one having such an ailment” ( psychopath ).

path.

⁴

abbreviation for

pathological.
pathology.

path.

/ pæθ /

abbreviation for

pathological
pathology

path

/ pɑːθ /

noun

a road or way, esp a narrow trodden track
a surfaced walk, as through a garden
the course or direction in which something moves
the path of a whirlwind
a course of conduct
the path of virtue
computing the directions for reaching a particular file or directory, as traced hierarchically through each of the parent directories usually from the root; the file or directoryand all parent directories are separated from one another in the path by slashes

-path

combining form

denoting a person suffering from a specified disease or disorder
neuropath
denoting a practitioner of a particular method of treatment
osteopath

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Derived Forms

ˈpathless, adjective

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Other Words From

multi·path noun
outpath noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of path¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English pæth; cognate with German Pfad

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Word History and Origins

Origin of path¹

Old English pæth; related to Old High German, German Pfad

Origin of path²

back formation from -pathy

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

cross one's path, to encounter or meet unexpectedly:
Tragedy crossed our path again.

More idioms and phrases containing path

see beat a path to someone's door ; cross someone's path ; lead down the garden path ; least resistance, path of ; on the warpath .

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Synonym Study

Path, lane, trail are passages or routes not as wide as a way or road. A path is a way for passing on foot; a track, beaten by feet, not specially constructed, is often along the side of a road: a path through a field. A lane is a narrow road or track, generally between fields, often enclosed with fences or trees; sometimes it is an alley or narrow road between buildings in towns: a lane leading to a farmhouse; Drury Lane. A trail is a rough way made or worn through woods, or across mountains, prairies, or other untraveled regions: an Indian trail.

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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