road
n
a an open way, usually surfaced with tarmac or concrete, providing passage from one place to another
b (as modifier)
road traffic, a road map, a road sign
c (in combination)
the roadside
b (cap. when part of a name)
London Road
a (U.S.) short for →
railroad
b (Brit) one of the tracks of a railway
4 a way, path, or course
the road to fame
5 often pl (Also called)
roadstead (Nautical) a partly sheltered anchorage
6 a drift or tunnel in a mine, esp. a level one
7 ♦
hit the road
Slang to start or resume travelling
a travelling, esp. as a salesman
b (of a theatre company, pop group, etc.) on tour
c leading a wandering life
9 ♦
take (to) the road to begin a journey or tour
10 ♦
one for the road Informal a last alcoholic drink before leaving (Old English rad; related to ridan to ride, and to Old Saxon reda, Old Norse reith) ♦
roadless adj
access road
n a road providing a means of entry into a region or of approach to another road, esp. a motorway
beef road
n (Austral) a road used for transporting cattle
B-road
n (in Britain) a secondary road
Burma Road
n the route extending from Lashio in Burma (now Myanmar) to Chongqing in China, which was used by the Allies during World War II to supply military equipment to Chiang Kai-shek's forces in China
clay road
n (N.Z) an unsealed and unmetalled road in a rural area
concession road
n (Canadian) (esp. in Ontario) one of a series of roads separating concessions in a township
corduroy road
n a road across swampy ground, made of logs laid transversely
dirt road
n an unsealed country road
escape road
n a road, usually ending in a pile of sand, provided on a hill for a driver to drive into if his brakes fail or on a bend if he loses control of the turn
knight of the road
n
Informal or facetious
middle-of-the-road
adj
1 not extreme, esp. in political views; moderate
2 of, denoting, or relating to popular music having a wide general appeal
♦
middle-of-the-roader n
off-road
adj (of a motor vehicle) designed or built for use away from public roads, esp. on rough terrain
post road
n a road or route over which post is carried and along which post houses were formerly sited
ring road
n a main road that bypasses a town or town centre, (U.S. names)
belt, beltway
road agent
n (U.S) (formerly) a bandit who robbed stagecoaches; highwayman
road allowance
n (Canadian) land reserved by the government to be used for public roads
road book
n a book of maps, sometimes including a gazetteer
road-fund licence
n (Brit) a licence showing that the tax payable in respect of a motor vehicle has been paid
(C20: from the former road fund for the maintenance of public highways)
road hog
n
Informal a selfish or aggressive driver
road hump
n the official name for →
sleeping policeman
road metal
n crushed rock, broken stone, etc., used to construct a road
road movie
n a genre of film in which the chief character is on the run or travelling in search of, or to escape from, himself
road rage
n aggressive behaviour by a motorist in response to the actions of another road user
road show
n
a a radio show broadcast live from one of a number of towns or venues being visited by a disc jockey who is touring an area
b the touring disc jockey and the personnel and equipment needed to present such a show
the Radio 1 road show will be in Brighton next week
2 a group of entertainers, esp. pop musicians, on tour
3 any occasion when an organization attracts publicity while touring or visiting
an antiques roadshow, a royal roadshow
road tax
n a tax paid, usually annually, on motor vehicles in use on the roads
road test
n
1 a test to ensure that a vehicle is roadworthy, esp. after repair or servicing, by driving it on roads
2 a test of something in actual use
vb
♦
road-test tr
3 to test (a vehicle) in this way
road train
n (Austral) a line of linked trailers pulled by a truck, used for transporting stock, etc.
royal road
n an easy or direct way of achieving a desired end
the royal road to success
service road
n (Brit) a relatively narrow road running parallel to a main road and providing access to houses, shops, offices, factories, etc., situated along its length
skid road
n (in the U.S. and Canada)
1 a track made of a set of logs laid transversely on which freshly cut timber can be hauled
a (in the West) the part of a town frequented by loggers
b another term for →
skid row
slip road
n (Brit) a short road connecting a motorway, etc., to another road
trunk road
n (Brit) a main road, esp. one that is suitable for heavy vehicles