treads

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   The raised pattern of grooves cut into the surface of a tire or shoe sole that grips the ground.

   Grammar: Usually counted as a pattern: the treads on the tire, not a single tread.

   Patterns

   • the treads on something
   • worn treads

   The mechanic told me the treads on my front tires were almost gone.

   Deep treads help hiking boots grip wet rock.

   Mud clogged the treads of the bike tires.

2. 2nounpluraltechnical

   The flat horizontal parts of a staircase that you step on, as opposed to the upright parts between them.

   Grammar: Pairs with risers: the treads are flat, the risers are vertical.

   Patterns

   • stair treads
   • the treads and risers

   We covered the wooden stair treads with grippy rubber strips.

   The treads on the old staircase were worn smooth in the middle.

   Each of the treads must be deep enough for a whole foot.

3. 3verbtransitive or intransitive

   Puts the foot down while walking, especially in a careful way or on something that might be damaged.

   Grammar: Often takes an adverb: she treads lightly; or an object: he treads the path.

   Patterns

   • tread on something
   • tread carefully
   • tread a path

   She treads lightly so she will not wake the baby.

   Nobody treads on that lawn without permission.

   He treads the same path to work every morning.

Word forms

Common combinations

worn treads

Replace the tires once the treads are worn down to the markers.

deep treads

Winter tires have deep treads for snow.

stair treads

The carpenter cut new stair treads from oak.

treads carefully

The new manager treads carefully around sensitive topics.

treads on someone's toes

He apologizes whenever he treads on a colleague's toes.

Synonyms and how they differ

steps

Steps is a broader word for stairs or movements of the feet, while treads names only the flat surfaces you stand on.

grooves

Grooves describes the cut channels in a tire, whereas treads names the whole patterned surface they make.

walks

Walks says only that someone moves on foot, while treads stresses how the foot lands, often with care.

stamps

Stamps suggests heavy, angry foot-falls, which is the opposite of the gentle sense of treads.

Word family

tread verb

to walk or step in a certain way

treading verb

the -ing form, as in treading water

trodden adjective

flattened by many feet, as in a well-trodden path

treadmill noun

an exercise machine with a moving belt

Commonly confused: treads or threads?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “treads”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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