Definition of the word tread

The origin of the word "tread" can be traced back to the Old English verb "treogan," which means "to trample." This verb is derived from the Old English noun "treord," which refers to "a footstep" or "a track made by the foot." The Old English verb "treogan" also had the related meanings of "to crush beneath the feet" and "to trample underfoot," which are still reflected in modern English words such as "trodden" and "trotting." The modern English verb "to tread" derives from the Old English verb "treogan" and originally referred to trampling or pressing with the feet. In the context of walking or walking on a surface, such as a floor, the meaning of "to tread" has come to mean simply "to step on or across," as in the expression "to tread the earth" or "to tread the boards" (the latter being a theatrical expression for "to perform on stage"). The noun "tread" also derives from the Old English "treord," from which it came to refer specifically to the part of a machine or footwear that comes into contact with the ground, such as the treads of a wheel or the treads of a shoe, both of which serve to grip the surface or provide footing. The verb "to tread" is still used in this sense, as in "to tread water" (to keep one's head above water by kicking one's feet). In summary, the word "tread" has its roots in the Old English verb "treogan," which means "to trample," and has developed over time to have both literal and figurative meanings related to trampling, stepping, and footwear.