path

[ path, pahth ]
/ pæθ, pɑθ /

noun, plural paths [pathz, pahthz, paths, pahths] /pæðz, pɑðz, pæθs, pɑθs/.

a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals.
a narrow walk or way: a path through a garden; a bicycle path.
a route, course, or track along which something moves: the path of a hurricane.
a course of action, conduct, or procedure: the path of righteousness.
Mathematics. a continuous curve that connects two or more points.
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 for path

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

Origin of path

before 900; Middle English; Old English pæth; cognate with German Pfad

SYNONYMS FOR path

1 footpath, pathway. 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 FROM path

mul·ti·path, noun out·path, noun

Definition for path (2 of 4)

path-

variant of patho- before a vowel: pathosis.

Definition for path (3 of 4)

-path

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 suffering from such an ailment” (psychopath).

Definition for path (4 of 4)

Example sentences from the Web for path

British Dictionary definitions for path (1 of 3)

path
/ (pɑːθ) /

noun plural paths (pɑːðz)

a road or way, esp a narrow trodden track
a surfaced walk, as through a garden
the course or direction in which something moves the path of a whirlwind
a course of conduct the path of virtue
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

Derived forms of path

pathless, adjective

Word Origin for path

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

British Dictionary definitions for path (2 of 3)

path.
/ (pæθ) /

abbreviation for

pathological
pathology

British Dictionary definitions for path (3 of 3)

-path

n combining form

denoting a person suffering from a specified disease or disorder neuropath
denoting a practitioner of a particular method of treatment osteopath

Word Origin for -path

back formation from -pathy

Medical definitions for path

-path

suff.

A practitioner of a specified kind of medical treatment:naturopath.
One affected by a specified kind of disorder:sociopath.

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.