path

[ path, pahth ]
See synonyms for path on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural paths [pathz, pahthz, paths, pahths]. /pæðz, pɑðz, pæθs, pɑθs/.
  1. a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals.

  2. a narrow walk or way: a path through a garden; a bicycle path.

  1. a route, course, or track along which something moves: the path of a hurricane.

  2. a course of action, conduct, or procedure: the path of righteousness.

  3. Mathematics. a continuous curve that connects two or more points.

  4. 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.

Idioms about path

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

Origin of path

1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English pæth; cognate with German Pfad

synonym study For path

1. 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.

Other words for path

Other words from path

  • mul·ti·path, noun
  • outpath, noun

Other definitions for path- (2 of 4)

path-

  1. variant of patho- before a vowel: pathosis.

Other definitions for -path (3 of 4)

-path

  1. 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).

Other definitions for path. (4 of 4)

path.

abbreviation
  1. pathological.

  2. pathology.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use path in a sentence

  • "But I can't stop to argue about it now;" and, saying this, he turned into a side path, and disappeared in the wood.

    Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. Carryl
  • I presume this path does not extend many miles without meeting impediments.

    Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
  • She had been walking alone with her arms hanging limp, letting her white skirts trail along the dewy path.

  • Suddenly his quick eye lit on something in the gravel path and his heart gave a great leap.

  • Squinty went this way and that through the woods, but he could not find the path that led to his pen.

    Squinty the Comical Pig | Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for path (1 of 3)

path

/ (pɑːθ) /


nounplural paths (pɑːðz)
  1. a road or way, esp a narrow trodden track

  2. a surfaced walk, as through a garden

  1. the course or direction in which something moves: the path of a whirlwind

  2. a course of conduct: the path of virtue

  3. 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

Origin of path

1
Old English pæth; related to Old High German, German Pfad

Derived forms of path

  • pathless, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for -path (2 of 3)

-path

n combining form
  1. denoting a person suffering from a specified disease or disorder: neuropath

  2. denoting a practitioner of a particular method of treatment: osteopath

Origin of -path

2
back formation from -pathy

British Dictionary definitions for path. (3 of 3)

path.

/ (pæθ) /


abbreviation for
  1. pathological

  2. pathology

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with path

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.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.