Defn: To change from one nature, form, or substance, into another; totransform.The caresses of parents and the blandishments of friends transmute usinto idols. Buckminster.Transmuting sorrow into golden joy Free from alloy. H. Smith.
TRANSMUTERTrans*mut"er, n.
Defn: One who transmutes.
TRANSMUTUALTrans*mu"tu*al, a. Etym: [Pref. trans + mutual.]
Defn: Reciprocal; commutual. [R.] Coleridge.
TRANSNATATION Trans`na*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. transnatare to swim over; trans across, over + natare to swim.]
Defn: The act of swimming across, as a river.
TRANSNATURETrans*na"ture, v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + nature.]
Defn: To transfer or transform the nature of. [Obs.]We are transelemented, or transnatured. Jewel.
TRANSOM Tran"som, n. Etym: [Probably fr. L. transtrum a crossbeam, transom, from trans across. Cf. Trestle.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A horizontal crossbar in a window, over a door, or between a door and a window above it. Transom is the horizontal, as mullion is the vertical, bar across an opening. See Illust. of Mullion.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: One of the principal transverse timbers of the stern, bolted to the sternpost and giving shape to the stern structure; — called also transsummer.
3. (Gun.)
Defn: The piece of wood or iron connecting the cheeks of some gun carriages.
4. (Surg.)
Defn: The vane of a cross-staff. Chambers.
5. (Railroad)
Defn: One of the crossbeams connecting the side frames of a truck with each other. Transom knees (Shipbuilding), knees bolted to the transoms and after timbers. — Transom window. (Arch.) (a) A window divided horizontally by a transom or transoms. (b) A window over a door, with a transom between.
TRANSPADANETrans"pa*dane`, a. Etym: [L. transpadanus; trans across + Padus thePo.]
Defn: Lying or being on the further side of the river Po with reference to Rome, that is, on the north side; — opposed to cispadane.
TRANSPALATINETrans*pal"a*tine, a. Etym: [Pref. trans- + palatine.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated beyond or outside the palatine bone; — said of a bone in the skull of some reptiles.
TRANSPARETrans*pare", v. t. & i. Etym: [See Transparent.]
Defn: To be, or cause to be, transparent; to appear, or cause to appear, or be seen, through something. [Obs.] Stirling.
TRANSPARENCETrans*par"ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. transparence.]
Defn: The quality or state of being transparent; transparency.
TRANSPARENCYTrans*par"en*cy, n.; pl. Transparencies. Etym: [Cf. F. transparence.]
1. The quality or condition of being transparent; transparence.
2. That which is transparent; especially, a picture painted on thin cloth or glass, or impressed on porcelain, or the like, to be viewed by natural or artificial light, which shines through it. Fairholt.
TRANSPARENT Trans*par"ent, a. Etym: [F., from LL. transparens, -entis, p. pr. of transparere to be transparent; L. trans across, through + parere to appear. See Appear.]
1. Having the property of transmitting rays of light, so that bodies can be distinctly seen through; pervious to light; diaphanous; pellucid; as, transparent glass; a transparent diamond; — opposed to Ant: opaque. "Transparent elemental air." Milton.
2. Admitting the passage of light; open; porous; as, a transparent veil. Dryden.
Syn.— Translucent; pellucid; clear; bright; limpid; lucid; diaphanous.See Translucent.— Trans*par"ent*ly, adv.— Trans*par"ent*ness, n.
TRANSPASSTrans*pass", v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + pass: cf. LL. transpassare.Cf. Trespass.]
Defn: To pass over; as, Alexander transpassed the river. [Obs.] J.Gregory.
TRANSPASSTrans*pass", v. i.
Defn: To pass by; to pass away. [Obs.]
TRANSPASSABLETrans*pass"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being transpassed, or crossed over. [Obs.]
TRANSPATRONIZETrans*pat"ron*ize, v. t. Etym: [Trans- + patronize.]
Defn: To transfer the patronage of. [Obs.] Warner.
TRANSPECIATETran*spe"ci*ate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + L. species form.]
Defn: To change from one species to another; to transform. [Obs.]Power to transpeciate a man into a horse. Sir T. Browne.
TRANSPICUOUS Tran*spic"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. transpicere to see or look through + specere, spicere, to see. Cf. Conspicuous.]
Defn: Transparent; pervious to the sight. [R.] "The wide, transpicuous air." Milton.
TRANSPIERCETrans*pierce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transpierced; p. pr. & vb. n.Transpiercing.] Etym: [Pref. trans- + pierce: cf. F. transpercer.]
Defn: To pierce through; to penetrate; to permeate; to pass through.The sides transpierced return a rattling sound. Dryden.
TRANSPIRABLETran*spir"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. transpirable.]
Defn: Capable of being transpired, or of transpiring.
TRANSPIRATIONTran`spi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. transpiration.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of transpiring or excreting in the form of vapor; exhalation, as through the skin or other membranes of the body; as, pulmonary transpiration, or the excretion of aqueous vapor from the lungs. Perspiration is a form of transpiration. Cudworth.
2. (bot.)
Defn: The evaporation of water, or exhalation of aqueous vapor, from cells and masses of tissue.
3. (Physics)
Defn: The passing of gases through fine tubes, porous substances, or the like; as, transpiration through membranes.
TRANSPIRATORYTran*spir"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or relating to transpiration.
TRANSPIRETran*spire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Transpired; p. pr. & vb. n.Transpiring.] Etym: [F. transpirer; L. trans across, through +spirare to breathe. See Spirit.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: To pass off in the form of vapor or insensible perspiration; to exhale.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: To evaporate from living cells.
3. To escape from secrecy; to become public; as, the proceedings of the council soon transpired. The story of Paulina's and Maximilian's mutual attachment had transpired through many of the travelers. De Quincey.
4. To happen or come to pass; to occur.
Note: This sense of the word, which is of comparatively recent introduction, is common in the United States, especially in the language of conversation and of newspaper writers, and is used to some extent in England. Its use, however, is censured by critics of both countries.
TRANSPIRETran*spire", v. t.
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: To excrete through the skin; to give off in the form of vapor; to exhale; to perspire.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: To evaporate (moisture) from living cells.
TRANSPLACETrans*place", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transplaced; p. pr. & vb. n.Transplacing.] Etym: [Pref. trans- + place.]
Defn: To remove across some space; to put in an opposite or anotherplace. [R.]It [an obelisk] was transplaced . . . from the left side of theVatican into a more eminent place. Bp. Wilkins.
TRANSPLANTTrans*plant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transplanted; p. pr. & vb. n.Transplanting.] Etym: [F. transplanter, L. transplantare; transacross, over + plantare to plant. See Plant.]
1. To remove, and plant in another place; as, to transplant trees. Dryden.
2. To remove, and settle or establish for residence in another place; as, to transplant inhabitants. Being transplanted out of his cold, barren diocese of St. David into a warmer climate. Clarendon.
TRANSPLANTATIONTrans`plan*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. transplantation.]
1. The act of transplanting, or the state of being transplanted; also, removal. The transplantation of Ulysses to Sparta. Broome.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: The removal of tissues from a healthy part, and the insertion of them in another place where there is a lesion; as, the transplantation of tissues in autoplasty. 3. (Surg.)
Defn: The removal of a bodily organ or of tissues from one person, and the insertion of them into another person to replace a damaged organ or tissue; as, the transplantation of a heart, kidney, or liver.
TRANSPLANTERTrans*plant"er, n.
Defn: One who transplants; also, a machine for transplanting trees.
TRANSPLENDENCYTran*splen"den*cy, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being transplendent. [R.] Dr. H. More.
TRANSPLENDENTTran*splen"dent, a. Etym: [Trans- + splendent.]
Defn: Resplendent in the highest degree. [R.] — Tran*splen"dent*ly, adv. [R.]
TRANSPORTTrans*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transported; p. pr. & vb. n.Transporting.] Etym: [F. transporter, L. transportare; trans across +portare to carry. See Port bearing, demeanor.]
1. To carry or bear from one place to another; to remove; to convey; as, to transport goods; to transport troops. Hakluyt.
2. To carry, or cause to be carried, into banishment, as a criminal; to banish.
3. To carry away with vehement emotion, as joy, sorrow, complacency, anger, etc.; to ravish with pleasure or ecstasy; as, music transports the soul. [They] laugh as if transported with some fit Of passion. Milton. We shall then be transported with a nobler . . . wonder. South.
TRANSPORTTrans"port, n. Etym: [F. See Transport, v.]
1. Transportation; carriage; conveyance. The Romans . . . stipulated with the Carthaginians to furnish them with ships for transport and war. Arbuthnot.
2. A vessel employed for transporting, especially for carrying soldiers, warlike stores, or provisions, from one place to another, or to convey convicts to their destination; — called also transport ship, transport vessel.
3. Vehement emotion; passion; ecstasy; rapture.With transport views the airy rule his own, And swells on animaginary throne. Pope.Say not, in transports of despair, That all your hopes are fled.Doddridge.
4. A convict transported, or sentenced to exile.
TRANSPORTABILITYTrans*port`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being transportable.
TRANSPORTABLETrans*port"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. transportable.]
1. Capable of being transported.
2. Incurring, or subject to, the punishment of transportation; as, a transportable offense.
TRANSPORTALTrans*port"al, n.
Defn: Transportation; the act of removing from one locality to another. "The transportal of seeds in the wool or fur of quadrupeds." Darwin.
TRANSPORTANCETrans*port"ance, n.
Defn: Transportation. [Obs.] "Give me swift transportance." Shak.
TRANSPORTANTTrans*port"ant, a.
Defn: Transporting; as, transportant love. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
TRANSPORTATION Trans`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. transportatio: cf. F. transportation.]
1. The act of transporting, or the state of being transported; carriage from one place to another; removal; conveyance. To provide a vessel for their transportation. Sir H. Wotton.
2. Transport; ecstasy. [R.] South.
TRANSPORTEDTrans*port"ed, a.
Defn: Conveyed from one place to another; figuratively, carried awaywith passion or pleasure; entranced.— Trans*port"ed*ly, adv.— Trans*port"ed*ness, n.
TRANSPORTERTrans*port"er, n.
Defn: One who transports.
TRANSPORTINGTrans*port"ing, a.
Defn: That transports; fig., ravishing.Your transporting chords ring out. Keble.
TRANSPORTINGLYTrans*port"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to transport.
TRANSPORTMENTTrans*port"ment, n.
Defn: The act of transporting, or the state of being transported; transportation. [R.]
TRANSPOSABLETrans*pos"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may transposed; as, a transposable phrase.
TRANSPOSALTrans*pos"al, n.
Defn: The act of transposing, or the state of being transposed; transposition.
TRANSPOSETrans*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transposed; p. pr. & vb. n.Transposing.] Etym: [F. transposer; pref. trans- (L. trans across) +poser to put. See Pose.]
1. To change the place or order of; to substitute one for the other of; to exchange, in respect of position; as, to transpose letters, words, or propositions.
2. To change; to transform; to invert. [R.] Things base and vile, holding no quantity, Love can transpose to form and dignity. Shak.
3. (Alg.)
Defn: To bring, as any term of an equation, from one side over to the other, without destroying the equation; thus, if a + b = c, and we make a = c - b, then b is said to be transposed.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: To change the natural order of, as words.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: To change the key of.
TRANSPOSERTrans*pos"er, n.
Defn: One who transposes.
TRANSPOSITION Trans`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [F. transposition, from L. transponere, transpositum, to set over, remove, transfer; trans across, over + ponere to place. See Position.]
Defn: The act of transposing, or the state of being transposed.Specifically: —(a) (Alg.)
Defn: The bringing of any term of an equation from one side over to the other without destroying the equation. (b) (Gram.) A change of the natural order of words in a sentence; as, the Latin and Greek languages admit transposition, without inconvenience, to a much greater extent than the English. (c) (Mus.) A change of a composition into another key.
TRANSPOSITIONALTrans`po*si"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to transposition; involving transposition.Pegge.
TRANSPOSITIVETrans*pos"i*tive, a.
Defn: Made by transposing; consisting in transposition; transposable.
TRANSPRINTTrans*print", v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + print.]
Defn: To transfer to the wrong place in printing; to print out of place. [R.] Coleridge.
TRANSPROSETrans*prose", v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + prose.]
Defn: To change from prose into verse; to versify; also, to change from verse into prose. [Obs.] Dryden.
TRANSREGIONATETrans*re"gion*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. trans- + region.]
Defn: Foreign. [Obs.] Holinshed.
TRANSSHAPETrans*shape", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transshaped; p. pr. & vb. n.Transshaping.] Etym: [Pref.trans- + shape.]
Defn: To change into another shape or form; to transform. [Written also transhape.] Shak.
TRANSSHIPTrans*ship", v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + ship.]
Defn: To transfer from one ship or conveyance to another. [Written also tranship.]
TRANSSHIPMENTTrans*ship"ment, n.
Defn: The act of transshipping, or transferring, as goods, from one ship or conveyance to another. [Written also transhipment.]
TRANSSUMMERTrans"sum`mer, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Transom, 2.
TRANSUBSTANTIATE Tran`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. t. Etym: [LL. transubstantiatus, p. p. of transubstantiare to transubstantiate; L. trans across, over + substantia substance. See Substance.]
1. To change into another substance. [R.] The spider love which transubstantiates all, And can convert manna to gall. Donne.
2. (R. C. Theol.)
Defn: To change, as the sacramental elements, bread and wine, into the flesh and blood of Christ.
TRANSUBSTANTIATION Tran`sub*stan`ti*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. transubstantiatio: cf. F. transsubstantiation.]
1. A change into another substance.
2. (R. C. Theol.)
Defn: The doctrine held by Roman Catholics, that the bread and wine in the Mass is converted into the body and blood of Christ; — distinguished from consubstantiation, and impanation.
TRANSUBSTANTIATORTran`sub*stan"ti*a`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. transsubstantiateur.]
Defn: One who maintains the doctrine of transubstantiation. Barrow.
TRANSUDATIONTran`su*da"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. transsudation.]
1. The act or process of transuding.
2. (Physics)
Defn: Same as Exosmose.
TRANSUDATORYTran*su"da*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to transudation; passing by transudation.
TRANSUDETran*sude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Transuded; p. pr. & vb. n.Transuding.] Etym: [Pref. trans- + L. sudare to sweat: cf. F.transsuder.]
Defn: To pass, as perspirable matter does, through the pores or interstices of textures; as, liquor may transude through leather or wood.
TRANSUME Tran*sume", v. t. Etym: [L. transumere, transsumere, to take from one to another; trans across + sumere to take.]
Defn: To change; to convert. [R.] Crashaw.
TRANSUMPT Tran*sumpt", n. Etym: [L. transumere, transumptum, to take from one to another, in LL., to transcribe. See Transume.]
Defn: A copy or exemplification of a record. [Obs.] Lord Herbert.
TRANSUMPTIONTran*sump"tion, n. Etym: [L. transumptio.]
Defn: Act of taking from one place to another. [R.] South.
TRANSUMPTIVETran*sump"tive, a. Etym: [L. transumptivus.]
Defn: Taking from one to another; metaphorical. [R.] "A transumptivekind of speech." Drayton.Fictive, descriptive, digressive, transumptive, and withaldefinitive. Lowell.
TRANSVASATETrans*va"sate, v. t. Etym: [See Transvasation.]
Defn: To pour out of one vessel into another. [Obs.] Cudworth.
TRANSVASATIONTrans`va*sa"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. trans- + L. vas, vasis, vessel.]
Defn: The act or process of pouring out of one vessel into another.[Obs.] Holland.
TRANSVECTION Trans*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. transvectio, from transvehere to carry across; trans across + vehere to carry.]
Defn: The act of conveying or carrying over. [R.]
TRANSVERBERATE Trans*ver"ber*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. transverberatus, p. p. of transverberare to strike or pierce through.]
Defn: To beat or strike through. [Obs.]
TRANSVERSALTrans*ver"sal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. transversal. See Transverse.]
Defn: Running or lying across; transverse; as, a transversal line.— Trans*ver"sal*ly, adv.
TRANSVERSALTrans*ver"sal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. transversale.] (Geom.)
Defn: A straight line which traverses or intersects any system of other lines, as a line intersecting the three sides of a triangle or the sides produced.
TRANSVERSETrans*verse", a. Etym: [L. transversus, p. p. of transvertere to turnon direct across; trans across + vertere to turn: cf. F. transverse.See Verse, and cf. Traverse.]
Defn: Lying or being across, or in a crosswise direction; athwart; — often opposed to Ant: longitudinal. Transverse axis (of an ellipse or hyperbola) (Geom.), that axis which passes through the foci. — Transverse partition (Bot.), a partition, as of a pericarp, at right angles with the valves, as in the siliques of mustard.
TRANSVERSETrans"verse, n.
1. Anything that is transverse or athwart.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: The longer, or transverse, axis of an ellipse.
TRANSVERSETrans*verse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Transversed; p. pr. & vb. n.Transversing.]
Defn: To overturn; to change. [R.] C. Leslie.
TRANSVERSETrans*verse", v. t. Etym: [Pref. trans- + verse, n. Cf.Transpose.]
Defn: To change from prose into verse, or from verse into prose.[Obs.] Duke of Buckingham.
TRANSVERSELYTrans*verse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a transverse manner.
TRANSVERSIONTrans*ver"sion, n.
Defn: The act of changing from prose into verse, or from verse into prose.
TRANSVERTTrans*vert", v. t. Etym: [L. transvertere. See Transverse, a.]
Defn: To cause to turn across; to transverse. [Obs.] Craft of Lovers (1448).
TRANSVERTIBLETrans*vert"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being transverted. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
TRANSVOLATION Trans`vo*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. transvolare to fly over or across; trans across + volare to fly.]
Defn: The act of flying beyond or across. Jer. Taylor.
TRANT Trant, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OD. tranten to walk slowly, LG. & D. trant walk, pace.]
Defn: To traffic in an itinerary manner; to peddle. [Written also traunt.] [Obs.]
TRANTERTrant"er, n.
Defn: One who trants; a peddler; a carrier. [Written also traunter.][Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
TRAPTrap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Trapping.] Etym:[Akin to OE. trappe trappings, and perhaps from an Old French word ofthe same origin as E. drab a kind of cloth.]
Defn: To dress with ornaments; to adorn; — said especially ofhorses.Steeds . . . that trapped were in steel all glittering. Chaucer.To deck his hearse, and trap his tomb-black steed. Spenser.There she found her palfrey trapped In purple blazoned with armorialgold. Tennyson.
TRAP Trap, n. Etym: [Sw. trapp; akin to trappa stairs, Dan. trappe, G. treppe, D. trap; — so called because the rocks of this class often occur in large, tabular masses, rising above one another, like steps. See Tramp.] (Geol.)
Defn: An old term rather loosely used to designate various dark- colored, heavy igneous rocks, including especially the feldspathic- augitic rocks, basalt, dolerite, amygdaloid, etc., but including also some kinds of diorite. Called also trap rock. Trap tufa, Trap tuff, a kind of fragmental rock made up of fragments and earthy materials from trap rocks.
TRAPTrap, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to trap rock; as, a trap dike.
TRAP Trap, n. Etym: [OE. trappe, AS. treppe; akin to OD.trappe, OHG. trapo; probably fr. the root of E. tramp, as that which is trod upon: cf. F. trappe, which is trod upon: cf. F. trappe, which perhaps influenced the English word.]
1. A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as, a trap for foxes. She would weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap. Chaucer.
2. Fig.: A snare; an ambush; a stratagem; any device by which one may be caught unawares. Let their table be made a snare and a trap. Rom. xi. 9. God and your majesty Protect mine innocence, or I fall into The trap is laid for me! Shak.
3. A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball. It consists of a pivoted arm on one end of which is placed the ball to be thrown into the air by striking the other end. Also, a machine for throwing into the air glass balls, clay pigeons, etc., to be shot at.
4. The game of trapball.
5. A bend, sag, or partitioned chamber, in a drain, soil pipe, sewer, etc., arranged so that the liquid contents form a seal which prevents passage of air or gas, but permits the flow of liquids.
6. A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet.
7. A wagon, or other vehicle. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
8. A kind of movable stepladder. Knight. Trap stairs, a staircase leading to a trapdoor. — Trap tree (Bot.) the jack; — so called because it furnishes a kind of birdlime. See 1st Jack.
TRAPTrap, v. t. Etym: [AS. treppan. See Trap a snare.]
1. To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
2. Fig.: To insnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap. "I trapped the foe." Dryden.
3. To provide with a trap; to trap a drain; to trap a sewer pipe. See 4th Trap, 5.
TRAPTrap, v. i.
Defn: To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.
TRAPANTra*pan", n. Etym: [OF. trappan. See Trap, and cf. Trepan a snare.]
Defn: A snare; a stratagem; a trepan. See 3d Trepan. South.
TRAPANTra*pan", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trapanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Trapanning.]
Defn: To insnare; to catch by stratagem; to entrap; to trepan.Having some of his people trapanned at Baldivia. Anson.
TRAPANNERTra*pan"ner, n.
Defn: One who trapans, or insnares.
TRAPBALLTrap"ball`, n.
Defn: An old game of ball played with a trap. See 4th Trap, 4.
TRAPDOORTrap"door`, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A lifting or sliding door covering an opening in a roof or floor.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A door in a level for regulating the ventilating current; — called also weather door. Raymond. Trapdoor spider (Zoöl.), any one of several species of large spiders which make a nest consisting of a vertical hole in the earth, lined with a hinged lid, like a trapdoor. Most of the species belong to the genus Cteniza, as the California species (C. Californica).
TRAPETrape, v. i. Etym: [See Tramp, and cf. Traipse.]
Defn: To walk or run about in an idle or slatternly manner; to traipse. [Obs. or Colloq.]
TRAPESTrapes, n. Etym: [See Trape.]
Defn: A slattern; an idle, sluttish, or untidy woman. [Obs. orColloq.]
TRAPESTrapes, v. i.
Defn: To go about in an idle or slatternly fashion; to trape; to traipse. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
TRAPEZATETrap"e*zate, a. Etym: [See Trapezium.]
Defn: Having the form of a trapezium; trapeziform.
TRAPEZETra*peze", n. Etym: [Cf. F. trapèze.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A trapezium. See Trapezium, 1.
2. A swinging horizontal bar, suspended at each end by a rope; — used by gymnasts.
TRAPEZIFORMTra*pe"zi*form, a. Etym: [Trapezium + -form: cf. F. trapéziforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a trapezium; trapezoid.
TRAPEZIUMTra*pe"zi*um, n.; pl. E. Trapeziums, L. Trapezia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.Tetra-) + Foot.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A plane figure bounded by four right lines, of which no two are parallel.
2. (Anat.) (a) A bone of the carpus at the base of the first metacarpal, or thumb. (b) A region on the ventral side of the brain, either just back of the pons Varolii, or, as in man, covered by the posterior extension of its transverse fibers.
TRAPEZOHEDRALTrap`e*zo*he"dral, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a trapezohedron.
TRAPEZOHEDRON Trap`e*zo*he"dron, n. Etym: [NL., from trapezium + Gr. (Crystalloq.) (a) A solid bounded by twenty-four equal and similar trapeziums; a tetragonal trisoctahedron. See the Note under Trisoctahedron. (b) A tetartohedral solid of the hexagonal system, bounded by six trapezoidal planes. The faces of this form are common on quartz crystals.
TRAPEZOIDTrap"e*zoid, n. Etym: [Gr. trapézoïde. See Trapezium.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A plane four-sided figure, having two sides parallel to each other.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A bone of the carpus at the base of the second metacarpal, or index finger.
TRAPEZOIDTrap"e*zoid, a.
1. Having the form of a trapezoid; trapezoidal; as, the trapezoid ligament which connects the coracoid process and the clavicle.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the trapezoid ligament; as, the trapezoid line.
TRAPEZOIDALTrap`e*zoid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. trapézoïdal.]
1. Having the form of a trapezoid; trapezoid.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Tranpezohedral.
TRAPHOLETrap"hole, n. (Mil.)
Defn: See Trou-de-loup.
TRAPPEANTrap"pe*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. trappéen. See Trap a kind of rock.](Min.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to trap; being of the nature of trap.
TRAPPERTrap"per, n. Etym: [From Trap to insnare.]
1. One who traps animals; one who makes a business of trapping animals for their furs. W. Irving.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A boy who opens and shuts a trapdoor in a gallery or level.Raymond.
TRAPPINGSTrap"pings, n. pl. Etym: [From Trap to dress with ornaments.]
1. That which serves to trap or adorn; ornaments; dress; superficialdecorations.Trappings of life, for ornament, not use. Dryden.These but the trappings and the suits of woe. Shak.
2. Specifically, ornaments to be put on horses. Caparisons and steeds, Bases and tinsel trappings. Milton.
TRAPPISTTrap"pist, n. Etym: [F. trappiste.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A monk belonging to a branch of the Cistercian Order, which was established by Armand de Rancé in 1660 at the monastery of La Trappe in Normandy. Extreme austerity characterizes their discipline. They were introduced permanently into the United States in 1848, and have monasteries in Iowa and Kentucky.
TRAPPOUSTrap"pous, n. Etym: [From Trap a kind of rock.] (Min.)
Defn: Of or performance to trap; resembling trap, or partaking of its form or qualities; trappy.
TRAPPURESTrap"pures, n. pl. Etym: [See Trap to dress.]
Defn: Trappings for a horse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
TRAPPYTrap"py, a. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Trappous.
TRAPSTraps, n. pl. Etym: [See Trappings, and Trap to dress.]
Defn: Small or portable articles for dress, furniture, or use; goods; luggage; things. [Colloq.]
TRAP SHOOTINGTrap shooting. (Sport)
Defn: Shooting at pigeons liberated, or glass balls or clay pigeons sprung into the air, from a trap. — Trap shooter.
TRAPSTICKTrap"stick`, n.
Defn: A stick used in playing the game of trapball; hence, fig., a slender leg. Addison.
TRASH Trash, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. tros rubbish, leaves, and twigs picked up for fuel, trassi a slovenly fellow, Sw. trasa a rag, tatter.]
1. That which is worthless or useless; rubbish; refuse. Who steals my purse steals trash. Shak. A haunch of venison would be trash to a Brahmin. Landor.
2. Especially, loppings and leaves of trees, bruised sugar cane, or the like.
Note: In the West Indies, the decayed leaves and stems of canes are called field trash; the bruised or macerated rind of canes is called cane trash; and both are called trash. B. Edwards.
3. A worthless person. [R.] Shak.
4. A collar, leash, or halter used to restrain a dog in pursuing game. Markham. Trash ice, crumbled ice mixed with water.
TRASHTrash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Trashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Trashing.]
1. To free from trash, or worthless matter; hence, to lop; to crop, as to trash the rattoons of sugar cane. B. Edwards.
2. To treat as trash, or worthless matter; hence, to spurn, humiliate, or crush. [Obs.]
3. To hold back by a trash or leash, as a dog in pursuing game; hence, to retard, encumber, or restrain; to clog; to hinder vexatiously. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
TRASHTrash, v. i.
Defn: To follow with violence and trampling. [R.] The Puritan (1607).
TRASHILYTrash"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a trashy manner.
TRASHINESSTrash"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being trashy.
TRASHYTrash"y, a. [Compar. Trashier; superl. Trashiest.]
Defn: Like trash; containing much trash; waste; rejected; worthless; useless; as, a trashy novel.
TRASS Trass, n. Etym: [D. tras or Gr. trass, probably fr. It. terrazzo terrace. See Terrace.] (Geol.)
Defn: A white to gray volcanic tufa, formed of decomposed trachytic cinders; — sometimes used as a cement. Hence, a coarse sort of plaster or mortar, durable in water, and used to line cisterns and other reservoirs of water. [Formerly written also tarras, tarrace, terras.]
Note: The Dutch trass is made by burning and grinding a soft grayish rock found on the lower Rhine.
TRAULISMTrau"lism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A stammering or stuttering. [Obs.] Dalgarno.
TRAUMATIC Trau*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. traumaticus, Gr. traumatique.] (Med.) (a) Of or pertaining to wounds; applied to wounds. Coxe. (b) Adapted to the cure of wounds; vulnerary. Wiseman. (c) Produced by wounds; as, traumatic tetanus. — n.
Defn: A traumatic medicine.
TRAUMATISMTrau"ma*tism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A wound or injury directly produced by causes external to the body; also, violence producing a wound or injury; as, rupture of the stomach caused by traumatism.
TRAUNCETraunce, n. & v.
Defn: See Trance. [Obs.]
TRAUNTTraunt, v. i.
Defn: Same as Trant. [Obs.]
TRAUNTERTraunt"er, n.
Defn: Same as Tranter. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
TRAVAIL Trav"ail (; 48), n. Etym: [F. travail; cf. Pr. trabalh, trebalh, toil, torment, torture; probably from LL. trepalium a place where criminals are tortured, instrument of torture. But the French word may be akin to L. trabs a beam, or have been influenced by a derivative from trabs (cf. Trave). Cf. Travel.]
1. Labor with pain; severe toil or exertion. As everything of price, so this doth require travail. Hooker.
2. Parturition; labor; as, an easy travail.
TRAVAILTrav"ail, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Travailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Travailing.]Etym: [F. travailler, OF. traveillier, travaillier, to labor, toil,torment; cf. Pr. trebalhar to torment, agitate. See Travail, n.]
1. To labor with pain; to toil. [Archaic] "Slothful persons which will not travail for their livings." Latimer.
2. To suffer the pangs of childbirth; to be in labor.
TRAVAILTrav"ail, v. t
Defn: To harass; to tire. [Obs.] As if all these troubles had not been sufficient to travail the realm, a great division fell among the nobility. Hayward.
TRAVAILOUSTrav"ail*ous, a.
Defn: Causing travail; laborious. [Obs.] Wyclif.— Trav"ail*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.] Wyclif.
TRAVE Trave, n. Etym: [Through French, fr. L. trabs, trabis, a beam; cf. OF. tref a beam, also F. travail a frame to confine a horse, OE. trave, trevys, travise, It. travaglio, F. travée the space between two beams.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A crossbeam; a lay of joists. Maundrell.
2. A wooden frame to confine an unruly horse or ox while shoeing. She sprung as a colt doth in the trave. Chaucer.
TRAVELTrav"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Traveled or Travelled; p. pr. & vb. n.Traveling or Travelling.] Etym: [Properly, to labor, and the sameword as travail.]
1. To labor; to travail. [Obsoles.] Hooker.
2. To go or march on foot; to walk; as, to travel over the city, or through the streets.
3. To pass by riding, or in any manner, to a distant place, or to many places; to journey; as, a man travels for his health; he is traveling in California.
4. To pass; to go; to move. Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. Shak.
TRAVELTrav"el, v. t.
1. To journey over; to traverse; as, to travel the continent. "I travel this profound." Milton.
2. To force to journey. [R.] They shall not be traveled forth of their own franchises. Spenser.
TRAVELTrav"el, n.
1. The act of traveling, or journeying from place to place; ajourney.With long travel I am stiff and weary. Shak.His travels ended at his country seat. Dryden.
2. pl.
Defn: An account, by a traveler, of occurrences and observations during a journey; as, a book of travels; — often used as the title of a book; as, Travels in Italy.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: The length of stroke of a reciprocating piece; as, the travel of a slide valve.
4. Labor; parturition; travail. [Obs.]
TRAVELEDTrav"eled, a.
Defn: Having made journeys; having gained knowledge or experience by traveling; hence, knowing; experienced. [Written also travelled.] The traveled thane, Athenian Aberdeen. Byron.
TRAVELERTrav"el*er, n. Etym: [Written also traveler.]
1. One who travels; one who has traveled much.
2. A commercial agent who travels for the purpose of receiving orders for merchants, making collections, etc.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: A traveling crane. See under Crane.
4. (Spinning)
Defn: The metal loop which travels around the ring surrounding the bobbin, in a ring spinner.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: An iron encircling a rope, bar, spar, or the like, and slidingthereon. Traveler's joy (Bot.), the Clematis vitalba, a climbingplant with white flowers.— Traveler's tree. (Bot.) See Ravenala.
TRAVEL-TAINTEDTrav"el-taint`ed, a.
Defn: Harassed; fatigued with travel. [Obs.] Shak.
TRAVERS Trav"ers, adv. Etym: [F. travers, breadth, extent from side, à travers, en travers, de travers, across, athwart. See Traverse, a.]
Defn: Across; athwart. [Obs.] The earl . . . caused . . . high trees to be hewn down, and laid travers one over another. Ld. Berners.
TRAVERSABLETrav"ers*a*ble, a.
1. Capable of being traversed, or passed over; as, a traversable region.
2. Deniable; specifically (Law), liable to legal objection; as, a traversable presentment. Sir M. Hale.
TRAVERSETrav"erse, a. Etym: [OF. travers, L. transversus, p. p. oftransvertere to turn or direct across. See Transverse, and cf.Travers.]
Defn: Lying across; being in a direction across something else; as, paths cut with traverse trenches. Oak . . . being strong in all positions, may be better trusted in cross and traverse work. Sir H. Wotton. The ridges of the fallow field traverse. Hayward. Traverse drill (Mach.), a machine tool for drilling slots, in which the work or tool has a lateral motion back and forth; also, a drilling machine in which the spindle holder can be adjusted laterally.
TRAVERSETrav"erse, adv.
Defn: Athwart; across; crosswise.
TRAVERSETrav"erse, n. Etym: [F. traverse. See Traverse, a.]
1. Anything that traverses, or crosses. Specifically: — (a) Something that thwarts, crosses, or obstructs; a cross accident; as, he would have succeeded, had it not been for unlucky traverses not under his control. (b) A barrier, sliding door, movable screen, curtain, or the like. Men drinken and the travers draw anon. Chaucer. And the entrance of the king, The first traverse was drawn. F. Beaumont. (c) (Arch.)
Defn: A gallery or loft of communication from side to side of a church or other large building. Gwilt. (d) (Fort.) A work thrown up to intercept an enfilade, or reverse fire, along exposed passage, or line of work. (e) (Law) A formal denial of some matter of fact alleged by the opposite party in any stage of the pleadings. The technical words introducing a traverse are absque hoc, without this; that is, without this which follows. (f) (Naut.) The zigzag course or courses made by a ship in passing from one place to another; a compound course. (g) (Geom.) A line lying across a figure or other lines; a transversal. (h) (Surv.) A line surveyed across a plot of ground. (i) (Gun.) The turning of a gun so as to make it point in any desired direction.
2. A turning; a trick; a subterfuge. [Obs.] To work, or solve, a traverse (Naut.), to reduce a series of courses or distances to an equivalent single one; to calculate the resultant of a traverse. — Traverse board (Naut.), a small board hung in the steerage, having the points of the compass marked on it, and for each point as many holes as there are half hours in a watch. It is used for recording the courses made by the ship in each half hour, by putting a peg in the corresponding hole. — Traverse jury (Law), a jury that tries cases; a petit jury. — Traverse sailing (Naut.), a sailing by compound courses; the method or process of finding the resulting course and distance from a series of different shorter courses and distances actually passed over by a ship. — Traverse table. (a) (Naut. & Surv.) A table by means of which the difference of latitude and departure corresponding to any given course and distance may be found by inspection. It contains the lengths of the two sides of a right-angled triangle, usually for every quarter of a degree of angle, and for lengths of the hypothenuse, from 1 to 100. (b) (Railroad) A platform with one or more tracks, and arranged to move laterally on wheels, for shifting cars, etc., from one line of track to another.
TRAVERSETrav"erse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Traversed; p. pr. & vb. n.Traversing.] Etym: [Cf. F. traverser. See Traverse, a.]
1. To lay in a cross direction; to cross. The parts should be often traversed, or crossed, by the flowing of the folds. Dryden.
2. To cross by way of opposition; to thwart with obstacles; to obstruct; to bring to naught. I can not but . . . admit the force of this reasoning, which I yet hope to traverse. Sir W. Scott.
3. To wander over; to cross in traveling; as, to traverse the habitable globe. What seas you traversed, and what fields you fought. Pope.
4. To pass over and view; to survey carefully. My purpose is to traverse the nature, principles, and properties of this detestable vice — ingratitude. South.
5. (Gun.)
Defn: To turn to the one side or the other, in order to point in any direction; as, to traverse a cannon.
6. (Carp.)
Defn: To plane in a direction across the grain of the wood; as, to traverse a board.
7. (Law)
Defn: To deny formally, as what the opposite party has alleged. When the plaintiff or defendant advances new matter, he avers it to be true, and traverses what the other party has affirmed. To traverse an indictment or an office is to deny it. And save the expense of long litigious laws, Where suits are traversed, and so little won That he who conquers is but last undone. Dryden. To traverse a yard (Naut.), to brace it fore and aft.
TRAVERSETrav"erse, v. i.
1. To use the posture or motions of opposition or counteraction, as in fencing. To see thee fight, to see thee foin, to see thee traverse. Shak.
2. To turn, as on a pivot; to move round; to swivel; as, the needle of a compass traverses; if it does not traverse well, it is an unsafe guide.
3. To tread or move crosswise, as a horse that throws his croup to one side and his head to the other.
TRAVERSE DRILLTrav"erse drill. (Mach.)
Defn: A machine tool for drilling slots, in which the work or tool has a lateral motion back and forth; also, a drilling machine in which the spindle holder can be adjusted laterally.
TRAVERSERTrav"ers*er, n.
1. One who, or that which, traverses, or moves, as an index on a scale, and the like.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who traverses, or denies.
3. (Railroad)
Defn: A traverse table. See under Traverse, n.
TRAVERSINGTrav"ers*ing, a.
Defn: Adjustable laterally; having a lateral motion, or a swinging motion; adapted for giving lateral motion. Traversing plate (Mil.), one of two thick iron plates at the hinder part of a gun carriage, where the handspike is applied in traversing the piece. Wilhelm. — Traversing platform (Mil.), a platform for traversing guns.
TRAVERTINETrav"er*tine, n. Etym: [F. travertin, It. travertino, tiburtino, L.lapis Tiburtinus, fr. Tibur an ancient town of Latium, now Tivoli.](Min.)
Defn: A white concretionary form of calcium carbonate, usually hard and semicrystalline. It is deposited from the water of springs or streams holding lime in solution. Extensive deposits exist at Tivoli, near Rome.
TRAVESTY Trav"es*ty, a. Etym: [F. travesti, p. p. of travestir to disguise, to travesty, It. travestire, fr. L. trans across, over + vestire to dress, clothe. See Vest.]
Defn: Disguised by dress so as to be ridiculous; travestied; — applied to a book or shorter composition. [R.]
TRAVESTYTrav"es*ty, n.; pl. Travesties (.
Defn: A burlesque translation or imitation of a work. The second edition is not a recast, but absolutely a travesty of the first. De Quincey.
TRAVESTYTrav"es*ty, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Travestied; p. pr. & vb. n.Travesting.]
Defn: To translate, imitate, or represent, so as to render ridiculousor ludicrous.I see poor Lucan travestied, not appareled in his Roman toga, butunder the cruel shears of an English tailor. Bentley.
TRAVOISTra`vois", n. [Cf. Travail.]
1. A primitive vehicle, common among the North American Indians, usually two trailing poles serving as shafts and bearing a platform or net for a load.
On the plains they will have horses dragging travoises; dogs with travoises, women and children loaded with impediments. Julian Ralph.
2. A logging sled. [Northern U. S. & Canada]
TRAWL Trawl, v. i. Etym: [OF. trauler, troller, F. trôter, to drag about, to stroll about; probably of Teutonic origin. Cf. Troll, v. t.]
Defn: To take fish, or other marine animals, with a trawl.
TRAWLTrawl, n.
1. A fishing line, often extending a mile or more, having many short lines bearing hooks attached to it. It is used for catching cod, halibut, etc.; a boulter. [U. S. & Canada]
2. A large bag net attached to a beam with iron frames at its ends, and dragged at the bottom of the sea, — used in fishing, and in gathering forms of marine life from the sea bottom.
TRAWLBOATTrawl"boat`, n.
Defn: A boat used in fishing with trawls or trawlnets.
TRAWLERTrawl"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, trawls.
2. A fishing vessel which trails a net behind it.
TRAWLERMANTrawl"er*man, n.; pl. Trawlermen (.
Defn: A fisherman who used unlawful arts and engines to catch fish.[Obs.] Cowell.
TRAWLNETTrawl"net`, n.
Defn: Same as Trawl, n., 2.
TRAWLWARPTrawl"warp`, n.
Defn: A rope passing through a block, used in managing or dragging a trawlnet.
TRAYTray, v. t. Etym: [OF. traïr, F. trahir, L. tradere. See Traitor.]
Defn: To betray; to deceive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
TRAYTray, n.; pl. Trays. Etym: [OE. treye, AS. treg. Cf. Trough.]
1. A small trough or wooden vessel, sometimes scooped out of a block of wood, for various domestic uses, as in making bread, chopping meat, etc.
2. A flat, broad vessel on which dishes, glasses, etc., are carried; a waiter; a salver.
3. A shallow box, generally without a top, often used within a chest, trunk, box, etc., as a removable receptacle for small or light articles.
TRAYFULTray"ful, n.; pl. Trayfuls (.
Defn: As much as a tray will hold; enough to fill a tray.
TRAYSTrays, n. pl. [Obs.]
Defn: See Trais. Chaucer.
TRAY-TRIPTray"-trip`, n. Etym: [From Trey a three.]
Defn: An old game played with dice. [Obs.] Shak.
TREACHER Treach"er, n. Etym: [OE. trichour, trichur, OF. tricheor deceiver, traitor, F. tricheur a cheat at play, a trickster. See Treachery.]
Defn: A traitor; a cheat. [Obs.]Treacher and coward both. Beau. & Fl.
TREACHEROUSTreach"er*ous, a. Etym: [See Treacher.]
Defn: Like a traitor; involving treachery; violating allegiance or faith pledged; traitorous to the state or sovereign; perfidious in private life; betraying a trust; faithless. Loyal father of a treacherous son. Shak. The treacherous smile, a mask for secret hate. Cowper.
Syn.— Faithless; perfidious; traitorous; false; insidious; plotting.— Treach"er*ous*ly, adv.— Treach"er*ous*ness, n.
TREACHERYTreach"er*y, n. Etym: [OE. trecherïe, trichere, OF. trecherie,tricherie, F. tricherie trickery, from tricher to cheat, to trick,OF. trichier, trechier; probably of Teutonic origin. See Trickery,Trick.]
Defn: Violation of allegiance or of faith and confidence; treasonable or perfidious conduct; perfidy; treason.
Be ware, ye lords, of their treachery. Chaucer. In the council chamber at Edinburgh, he had contracted a deep taint of treachery and corruption. Macaulay.
TREACHETOUR; TREACHOURTreach"e*tour, Treach"our, n. Etym: [See Treacher.]
Defn: A traitor. [Obs.] "Treachour full of false despite." Spenser.
TREACLE Trea"cle (tre"k'l), n. Etym: [OE. triacle a sovereign remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. thériaque (cf. Pr. triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. qhri`on a beast, a wild beast, dim. of qh`r a beast. Cf. Theriac.]
1. (Old Med.)
Defn: A remedy against poison. See Theriac, 1.We kill the viper, and make treacle of him. Jer. Taylor.
2. A sovereign remedy; a cure. [Obs.] Christ which is to every harm treacle. Chaucer .
3. Molasses; sometimes, specifically, the molasses which drains from the sugar-refining molds, and which is also called sugarhouse molasses.
Note: In the United States molasses is the common name; in England, treacle.
4. A saccharine fluid, consisting of the inspissated juices or decoctions of certain vegetables, as the sap of the birch, sycamore, and the like. Treacle mustard (Bot.), a name given to several species of the cruciferous genus Erysimum, especially the E. cheiranthoides, which was formerly used as an ingredient in Venice treacle, or theriac. — Treacle water, a compound cordial prepared in different ways from a variety of ingredients, as hartshorn, roots of various plants, flowers, juices of plants, wines, etc., distilled or digested with Venice treacle. It was formerly regarded as a medicine of great virtue. Nares. Venice treacle. (Old Med.) Same as Theriac, 1.
TREACLYTrea"cly, a.
Defn: Like, or composed of, treacle.
TREAD Tread, v. i. [imp. Trod; p. p. Trodden, Trod; p. pr. & vb. n. Treading.] Etym: [OE. treden, AS. tredan; akin to OFries. treda, OS. tredan, D. & LG. treden, G. treten, OHG. tretan, Icel. tro, Sw. tråda, träda, Dan. træde, Goth. trudan, and perhaps ultimately to F. tramp; cf. Gr. dram to run. Cf. Trade, Tramp, Trot.]
1. To set the foot; to step.Where'er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise. Pope.Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Pope.The hard stone Under our feet, on which we tread and go. Chaucer.
2. To walk or go; especially, to walk with a stately or a cautious step. Ye that . . . stately tread, or lowly creep. Milton.
3. To copulate; said of birds, esp. the males. Shak. To tread on or upon. (a) To trample; to set the foot on in contempt. "Thou shalt tread upon their high places." Deut. xxxiii. 29. (b) to follow closely. "Year treads on year." Wordsworth. — To tread upon the heels of, to follow close upon. "Dreadful consequences that tread upon the heels of those allowances to sin." Milton. One woe doth tread upon another's heel. Shak.
TREADTread, v. t.
1. To step or walk on. Forbid to tread the promised land he saw. Prior. Methought she trod the ground with greater grace. Dryden.
2. To beat or press with the feet; as, to tread a path; to tread land when too light; a well-trodden path.
3. To go through or accomplish by walking, dancing, or the like. " I am resolved to forsake Malta, tread a pilgrimage to fair Jerusalem." Beau. & Fl. They have measured many a mile, To tread a measure with you on this grass. Shak.
4. To crush under the foot; to trample in contempt or hatred; tosubdue.Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.Ps. xliv. 5.
5. To copulate with; to feather; to cover; — said of the male bird. Chaucer. To tread out, to press out with the feet; to press out, as wine or wheat; as, to tread out grain with cattle or horses. — To tread the stage, to act as a stageplayer; to perform a part in a drama.
TREADTread, n.
1. A step or stepping; pressure with the foot; a footstep; as, a nimble tread; a cautious tread. She is coming, my own, my sweet; Were it ever so airy a tread, My heart would hear her and beat. Tennyson.
2. Manner or style of stepping; action; gait; as, the horse has a good tread.
3. Way; track; path. [R.] Shak.
4. The act of copulation in birds.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: The upper horizontal part of a step, on which the foot is placed.
6. (Fort.)
Defn: The top of the banquette, on which soldiers stand to fire over the parapet.
7. (Mach.) (a) The part of a wheel that bears upon the road or rail. (b) The part of a rail upon which car wheels bear.
8. (Biol.)
Defn: The chalaza of a bird's egg; the treadle.
9. (Far.)
Defn: A bruise or abrasion produced on the foot or ankle of a horse that interferes. See Interfere, 3.
TREADBOARDTread"board`, n. [Arch.]
Defn: See Tread, n., 5.
TREADERTread"er, n.
Defn: One who treads. Isa. xvi. 10.
TREADFOWLTread"fowl`, n.
Defn: A cock. [Obs.] Chaucer.
TREADLETrea"dle, n. Etym: [OE. tredyl a step, AS. tredel. See Tread.]
1. The part of a foot lathe, or other machine, which is pressed or moved by the foot.