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tread water

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tread

  [tred] ,verb, trod, trod⋅den or trod, tread⋅ing, noun
Use tread water in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
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.
–verb (used with object)
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).
–noun
10. the action of treading, stepping, or walking.
11. the sound of footsteps.
12. manner of treading or walking.
13. a single step as in walking.
14. any of various things or parts on which a person or thing treads, stands, or moves.
15. the part of the under surface of the foot or of a shoe that touches the ground.
16. the horizontal upper surface of a step in a stair, on which the foot is placed.
17. the part of a wheel, tire, or runner that bears on the road, rail, etc.
18. the pattern raised on or cut into the face of a rubber tire.
19. caterpillar tread.
20. Railroads. that part of a rail in contact with the treads of wheels.
—Idioms
21. tread on someone's toes or corns, to offend or irritate someone.
22. tread the boards, to act on the stage, esp. professionally: He recalled the days when he had trod the boards.
23. tread water,
a. 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.
b. 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.
Origin:
bef. 900; (v.) ME treden, OE tredan; c. OFris treda, OS tredan, D treden, G treten; akin to ON trotha, Goth trudan; (n.) ME tred footprint, deriv. of the v.

Related forms:
treader, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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tread   (trěd)   
v.   trod (trŏd), trod·den (trŏd'n) or trod, tread·ing, treads

v.   tr.

  1. To walk on, over, or along.

  2. To press beneath the feet; trample.

  3. To subdue harshly or cruelly; crush.

  4. To form by walking or trampling: tread a path.

  5. To execute by walking or dancing: tread a measure.

  6. To copulate with. Used of a male bird.

v.   intr.

    1. To go on foot; walk.

    2. To set down the foot; step.

  2. To press, crush, or injure something by or as if by trampling. Often used with on or upon: trod on her feelings.

  3. To copulate. Used of birds.

n.  

    1. The act, manner, or sound of treading.

    2. An instance of treading; a step.

    3. A mark made by treading, as in snow.

    4. The part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with the road or rails.

    5. The grooved face of a tire.

  2. The upper horizontal part of a step in a staircase.

    1. The part of a wheel or tire that makes contact with the road or rails.

    2. The grooved face of a tire.

  4. The part of a shoe sole that touches the ground.

  5. Either of the continuous metal belts with which bulldozers, tanks, and certain other vehicles move over the ground.


[Middle English treden, from Old English tredan.]
tread'less adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

tread water

Expend effort that maintains one's status but does not make much progress toward a goal, as in He was just treading water from paycheck to paycheck. This idiom alludes to the term's literal meaning, that is, "keep one's head above water by remaining upright and pumping the legs."

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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