tread

verb

Pronunciation: trɛd

Definition

To walk or step in a specified way.

Examples

• He trod carefully on the broken glass.

• She trod lightly through the sleeping house.

• The old man trod the same path every day.

How to Use tread

tread on (prepositional phrase)

To step on something, often carelessly or with force. — "Don't tread on the flowers!"

tread carefully (collocation)

To walk with caution to avoid danger or damage. — "You'll need to tread carefully around the sensitive topic."

tread lightly (collocation)

To walk softly and quietly, or to be careful not to cause problems. — "She tried to tread lightly around the issue of his job loss."

tread water (idiom)

To make no progress; to stay in the same place or condition. — "The company has been treading water for months, unable to increase sales."

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