way
n
1 a manner, method, or means
a way of life, a way of knowing
2 a route or direction
the way home
a a means or line of passage, such as a path or track
b (in combination)
waterway
4 space or room for movement or activity (esp. in the phrases make way, in the way, out of the way)
5 distance, usually distance in general
you've come a long way
6 a passage or journey
on the way
7 characteristic style or manner
I did it in my own way
8 often pl habits; idiosyncrasies
he has some offensive ways
9 an aspect of something; particular
in many ways he was right
a a street in or leading out of a town
b (cap. when part of a street name)
Icknield Way
11 something that one wants in a determined manner (esp. in the phrases get or have one's (own) way)
12 the experience or sphere in which one comes into contact with things (esp. in the phrase come one's way)
13 Informal a state or condition, usually financial or concerning health (esp. in the phrases in a good (or bad) way)
14 Informal the area or direction of one's home
drop in if you're ever over my way
15 movement of a ship or other vessel
17 a guide along which something can be moved, such as the surface of a lathe along which the tailstock slides
18 pl the wooden or metal tracks down which a ship slides to be launched
19 a course of life including experiences, conduct, etc.
the way of sin
20 Archaic calling or trade
21 ♦
by the way sentence modifier in passing or incidentally
b serving as
by way of introduction
c in the state or condition of
by way of being an artist
23 ♦
each way (of a bet) laid on a horse, dog, etc., to win or gain a place
a to collapse or break down
a to step aside for or stop for
b to give full rein to (emotions, etc.)
26 ♦
go out of one's way to take considerable trouble or inconvenience oneself
27 ♦
have a way with to have such a manner or skill as to handle successfully
28 ♦
have it both ways to enjoy two things that would normally contradict each other or be mutually exclusive
29 ♦
in a way in some respects
30 ♦
in no way not at all
b to set an example or precedent
b to achieve success in life
33 ♦
no way
Informal that is impossible
34 ♦
on the way out
Informal
a becoming unfashionable, obsolete, etc.
a removed or dealt with so as to be no longer a hindrance
c unusual and sometimes improper
36 ♦
pay one's way See →
pay →
11
37 ♦
see one's way (clear) to find it possible and be willing (to do something)
38 ♦
the way (Irish) so that
I left early the way I would avoid the traffic
39 ♦
under way having started moving or making progress
adv
a at a considerable distance or extent
way over yonder
b very far
they're way up the mountain
41 Informal by far; considerably way better (Old English weg; related to Old Frisian wei, Old Norse vegr, Gothic wigs)
Appian Way
n a Roman road in Italy, extending from Rome to Brindisi: begun in 312 b.c. by Appius Claudius Caecus. Length: about 560 km (350 miles)
each way
adj
adv (Horse racing, etc.) (chiefly Brit) (of a bet) made on the same runner or contestant to win or come second or third in a race, (Also)
both ways (U.S. term)
across-the-board
Flaminian Way
n an ancient road in Italy, extending north from Rome to Rimini: constructed in 220 b.c. by Gaius Flaminius. Length: over 322 km (200 miles), (Latin name)
Via Flaminia
fly way
n the usual route used by birds when migrating
Fosse Way
n a Roman road in Britain between Lincoln and Exeter, with a fosse on each side
four-way
adj usually prenominal
1 giving passage in four directions
2 made up of four elements
Great White Way
n the theatre district on Broadway in New York City
Milky Way
n
♦
the
1 the diffuse band of light stretching across the night sky that consists of millions of faint stars, nebulae, etc., and forms part of the Galaxy
2 another name for the →
Galaxy
(C14: translation of Latin via lactea)
one-way
adj
1 moving or allowing travel in one direction only
one-way traffic, a one-way ticket
2 entailing no reciprocal obligation, action, etc.
a one-way agreement
one-way ticket
n the U.S. and Canadian name for →
single ticket
out-of-the-way
adj prenominal
1 distant from more populous areas
Pennine Way
n a long-distance footpath extending from Edale, Derbyshire, for 402 km (250 miles) to Kirk Yetholm, Scottish Borders
permanent way
n (Chiefly Brit) the track of a railway, including the ballast, sleepers, rails, etc.
right of way
n pl , rights of way
1 the right of one vehicle or vessel to take precedence over another, as laid down by law or custom
a the legal right of someone to pass over another's land, acquired by grant or by long usage
b the path or road used by this right
3 (U.S.) the strip of land over which a power line, railway line, road, etc., extends
Third Way
n
a a political ideology that seeks to combine egalitarian and individualist policies, and elements of socialism and capitalism
b (as modifier)
Third Way government
three-way
adj
1 providing connections to three routes from a central point
2 involving three things or people
two-way
adj
1 moving, permitting movement, or operating in either of two opposite directions
two-way traffic, a two-way valve
2 involving two participants
a two-way agreement
3 involving reciprocal obligation or mutual action
a two-way process
4 (of a radio, telephone, etc.) allowing communications in two directions using both transmitting and receiving equipment
two-way mirror
n a half-silvered sheet of glass that functions as a mirror when viewed from one side but is translucent from the other
under way
adj postpositive
1 in progress; in operation
the show was under way
way-out
adj
Informal
1 extremely unconventional or experimental; avant-garde