Noun We followed a winding path through the woods. The path led down the hill. The car skidded into the path of an oncoming truck. The fire destroyed everything in its path. The cars moved aside to clear a path for the ambulance. He tried to leave but one of the guards blocked his path. They are heading down a dangerous path that could lead to war. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The path to Tempe was paved with obstacles, but each has provided a learning experience. Michelle Gardner, The Arizona Republic, 17 Sep. 2022 At that point the forecast path begins to curve more to the north instead of heading west toward the U.S. East Coast. Leigh Morgan, al, 17 Sep. 2022 The path toward Friday’s ceremony began in January, when Los Angeles Councilman Kevin de León, whose Eastside district includes Boyle Heights, introduced a motion to rename Bailey Street after Fernández. Andrew J. Campastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 But the path to Ukrainian victory suddenly seems far more attainable than anyone had the right to expect at the outset. Casey Michel, The New Republic, 16 Sep. 2022 No amount of lobbying or politicking would pave the path back to the USWNT. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2022 The state gun carriage will carry Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin, accompanied by musicians such as the band of royal marines, and the path will be lined with members of the royal navy and royal marines.Time, 16 Sep. 2022 Union advocates see unionization in government as the path to growth. Nathan Mcgrath, WSJ, 16 Sep. 2022 One of my missions has been to make the path smoother by supporting the funding of organizations that combine English language training with skills training. Rosalin Acosta, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Sep. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English pæth; akin to Old High German pfad path
Noun combining form
borrowed from Greek -pathēs "experiencing, undergoing or suffering (as designated by the initial element)," adjectival derivative from páthos "experience, misfortune, emotion" — more at pathos
Note: The agentive meaning of sense 1 is based on loans from German or French (as German Homöopath, French homéopathehomeopath) that appear to be back-formations from abstract nouns ending in -ie (as German Homöopathie, French homéopathiehomeopathy—cf. -pathy).
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of path was before the 12th century
1way across land穿過土地的路ADJECTIVE | VERB + PATH | PATH + VERB | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤long長長的小路▸➤narrow狹窄的小徑▸➤steep陡直的小路▸➤winding彎彎曲曲的小路➤cobblestone, dirt, gravel, paved, rocky石子路;土路;鋪平的路➤wooded林間小路➤cliff, coast, coastal (all especially BrE) 懸崖上的小路;海邊小徑▸➤forest, garden, woodland (especially BrE) 森林中的小路;花園小路;林中小徑▸➤pedestrian, public (especially BrE) 人行道;公共通道▸➤bike, cycle (BrE) 自行車專用道▸➤bridle馬道VERB + PATH➤follow, take順着小徑走;走小路◇Follow this path for about 100 yards, and it's on your right.沿着這條小路走大約 100 碼,它就在你右邊。➤go along, go down, go up沿着小徑走▸➤climb沿着小路攀登▸➤keep on, keep to, stay on沿着小路繼續走;不偏離小路▸➤leave, stray from, stray off離開小路;偏離小路➤retrace返回原來的路徑◇They retraced the path they had taken earlier that day.他們折回到他們那天早些時候走的小路。➤clear, make開出小路◇A path was cleared through the jungle.在叢林中開闢出一條小路。PATH + VERB➤go, run小路通(向);小路伸展◇That path goes down to the river.那條小路通到河邊。➤descend (especially BrE) 小路下斜➤follow sth小路沿着⋯◇The path follows the stream for quite a way.小路順着小溪伸延了很遠。➤branch off, leave sth小路岔開;小路離開⋯◇The path left the river bank and wound its way into the woods.小路從河邊岔開,蜿蜒曲折通向樹林深處。➤divide, fork小路分開/分岔▸➤go to sth, lead (to) sth小路通往⋯◇Where does this path lead?這條小路通向哪裏?➤wind, zigzag小路向前蜿蜒伸展;小路呈之字形向前伸展◇Then the path zigzags steeply uphill for a while.接着有一陣,小路很陡,曲曲折折地向山上延伸。➤be marked (sth)小路標着(⋯)◇The path is clearly marked.這條小路的路標很清楚。➤narrow, widen小路變窄/變寬PREPOSITION➤along a/the path, down a/the path, up a/the path沿着小路◇The children ran along the path.孩子們沿着小路奔跑。➤on a/the path在小路上◇I think we're on the path we used yesterday.我想我們現在正走在昨天走過的小路上。➤path along, path beside, path by沿着⋯/⋯旁的小徑◇the path along the canal沿着運河的小路➤path for用於⋯的小路◇a path for cyclists自行車專用道➤path from從⋯開始的小路◇the path from the hotel to the beach從旅館到海灘的小路➤path through穿過⋯的小路◇I took the path through the park.我走穿過公園的小路。➤path to通往⋯的小路PHRASES➤off the beaten path (= not in a place that most people go to) (NAmE) 偏僻◇The museum is located well off the beaten path.這家博物館位置很偏僻。path
noun²
2line of movement行動路線ADJECTIVE | VERB + PATH | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤correct, right正確的路線▸➤flight飛行路線◇The pilot was instructed to change his flight path.飛行員接到了改變飛行路線的指示。➤direct直接路徑◇The building was in the direct path of the missile.該建築位於導彈彈道上。➤circular, straight圓形/直線路線◇The object continued in its circular path.物體繼續沿圓形軌跡運行。VERB + PATH➤steer開出通路◇He steered a path through the crowd.他從人群中開出一條路。➤trace追踪路線◇Scientists can trace the path of the tornado.科學家們可以追踪龍捲風的行進路線。➤block, obstruct, stand in堵塞路線;阻擋路線◇You're standing in my path!你擋了我的道!➤cross偶遇;碰面◇A peacock crossed our path.我們路遇一隻孔雀。PREPOSITION➤across sth's path穿過⋯的路線◇The car pulled right across the path of another vehicle.這輛車正好駛過另一輛車的車道。➤in sth's path, into sth's path在⋯的路線;進入⋯的路線◇She stepped into the path of an oncoming car.有一輛轎車恰好朝行進中的她駛來。➤out of sth's path離開⋯的路線◇I managed to jump out of the path of the bike just in time.我及時跳開,躲過了駛來的自行車。➤path through穿過⋯的路線◇Footsteps had scored a diagonal path through the snow.腳印在雪地上留下了一條對角線。➤path to到⋯去的路線◇He moved quickly to block her path to the door.他迅速攔住她到門口的路。PHRASES➤everything in sb's/sth's path所經之處的一切◇The tornado destroyed everything in its path.龍捲風所經之處一切盡毀。path
noun³
3way of achieving sth實現的辦法ADJECTIVE | VERB + PATH | PREPOSITION | PHRASESADJECTIVE➤well-trodden, well-worn常用的方法;陳腐的做法◇Her education followed the usual well-worn path of rich youngsters in the 1930s.她接受的教育沿襲了 20 世紀 30 年代富家子弟一成不變的模式。➤clear, direct, straight清晰的/直接的/坦率的路線◇She saw the plan as a direct path to her goals.她認為這個計劃是實現她目標的直接路徑。➤chosen選擇的道路➤different, divergent不同的道路;岔路◇The two friends followed divergent paths in life.這兩個朋友走了不同的人生道路。➤career職業發展途徑➤spiritual心靈之旅◇the challenge of staying on his spiritual path while surrounded by temptation在誘惑中繼續心靈之旅的挑戰➤evolutionary進化之路◇the evolutionary path that humans have followed人類遵循的進化道路VERB + PATH➤choose, find選擇方法;找到路徑◇Everyone has to find their own path in life.每個人都要找到自己的生活方式。➤follow, pursue, tread, walk遵循⋯做法;追求⋯方式◇Can a person who has walked a path of evil all his life really change?一生走在邪惡道路上的人真的能改變嗎?➤blaze, carve, carve out, chart, forge開拓道路;開闢道路;規劃道路◇He aimed to forge a new path between traditional left-wing and right-wing politics.他的目標是在傳統的左翼和右翼政治之間另闢蹊徑。➤deviate from偏離路徑➤clear, ease, smooth清理/平整/弄平道路◇This cleared the path for them to marry.這清除了他們結婚道路上的障礙。PREPOSITION➤on a/the path在道路上◇His feet were now firmly on the path to success.他發現已經穩穩踏上成功之路。➤path of⋯的路途◇The path of true love is never easy.真愛無坦途。➤path to通往⋯的路徑◇the path to happiness幸福之路PHRASES➤cross paths (with sb)(= meet sb in the course of your life, work, etc.)(與某人)相逢◇I hope to cross paths with him again some day.我希望有朝一日與他再度相逢。➤obstacles in sb/sth's path⋯道路上的障礙◇I don't want to put obstacles in your path.我不想阻礙你的前程。