Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense traverses, present participle traversing, past tense, past participle traversed
verb
If someone or something traverses an area of land or water, they go across it.
[literary]
I traversed the narrow pedestrian bridge. [VERB noun]
...a steep-sided valley traversed by streams. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: cross, go across, travel over, make your way across More Synonyms of traverse
More Synonyms of traverse
traverse in British English
(ˈtrævɜːs, trəˈvɜːs)
verb
1.
to pass or go over or back and forth over (something); cross
2. (transitive)
to go against; oppose; obstruct
3.
to move or cause to move sideways or crosswise
4. (transitive)
to extend or reach across
5.
to turn (an artillery gun) laterally on its pivot or mount or (of an artillery gun) to turn laterally
6. (transitive)
to look over or examine carefully
7. (transitive) law
to deny (an allegation of fact), as in pleading
8. (intransitive) fencing
to slide one's blade towards an opponent's hilt while applying pressure against his or her blade
9. mountaineering
to move across (a face) horizontally
10. (transitive) nautical
to brace (a yard) fore and aft
noun
11.
something being or lying across, such as a transom
12.
a gallery or loft inside a building that crosses it
13. mathematics another name for transversal (sense 1)
14.
an obstruction or hindrance
15. fortifications
a protective bank or other barrier across a trench or rampart
16.
a railing, screen, or curtain
17.
the act or an instance of traversing or crossing
18.
a path or road across
19. nautical
the zigzag course of a vessel tacking frequently
20. law
the formal denial of a fact alleged in the opposite party's pleading
21. surveying
a survey consisting of a series of straight lines, the length of each and the angle between them being measured
22. mountaineering
a horizontal move across a face
adjective
23.
being or lying across; transverse
adverb
24. an archaic word for across
Derived forms
traversable (ˈtraversable)
adjective
traversal (traˈversal)
noun
traverser (ˈtraverser)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French traverser, from Late Latin trānsversāre, from Latin trānsversustransverse
traverse in American English
(trəˈvɜrs; ˈtrævərs; for n., adj., & ; adv., ˈtrævərs; trəˈvɜrs)
verb transitiveWord forms: traˈversed or traˈversing
1.
a.
to pass, move, or extend over, across, or through; cross
b.
to go back and forth over or along; cross and recross
2.
to go counter to; oppose; thwart
3.
to survey, inspect, or examine carefully
4.
to turn (a gun, lathe, etc.) laterally; swivel
5.
to make a traverse of in surveying
6. Law
a.
to deny or contradict formally (something alleged by the opposing party in a lawsuit)
b.
to join issue upon (an indictment) or upon the validity of (an inquest of office)
7. Nautical
to brace (a yard) fore and aft
verb intransitive
8.
to move across; cross over
9.
to move back and forth over a place, etc.; cross and recross
10.
to swivel or pivot
11.
to move across a mountain slope, as in skiing, in an oblique direction
12.
to make a traverse in surveying
13. Fencing
to move one's blade toward the opponent's hilt while pressing one's foil hard against the opponent's foil
nounWord forms: ˈtraverse
14.
something that traverses or crosses
; specif.,
a.
a line that intersects others
b.
a crossbar, crosspiece, crossbeam, transom, etc.
c.
a parapet or wall of earth, etc. across a rampart or trench
d.
a gallery, loft, etc. crossing a building
e.
a single line of survey across a plot, region, etc.
f. Obsolete
a screen, curtain, etc. placed crosswise
15. Rare
something that opposes or thwarts; obstacle
16.
the act or an instance of traversing
; specif.,
a.
a passing across or through; crossing
b.
a lateral, pivoting, oblique, or zigzagging movement
17.
a part, device, etc. that causes a traversing movement
18.
a passage by which one may cross; way across
19.
a.
a zigzagging course or route taken by a vessel, as in sailing against the wind
b.
a single leg of such a course
20.
a formal denial in a lawsuit
adjectiveWord forms: ˈtraverse
21.
passing or extending across; transverse
22.
designating or of drapes (and the rods and hooks for them) usually hung in pairs that can be drawn together or apart by pulling a cord at the side
adverbWord forms: ˈtraverse
23. Obsolete
across; crosswise
Derived forms
traversable (traˈversable)
adjective
traversal (traˈversal)
noun
traverser (traˈverser)
noun
Word origin
ME traversen < OFr traverser < VL < *transversare < L transversus, pp. of transvertere, to turn across < trans-, trans- + vertere, to turn: see verse
Examples of 'traverse' in a sentence
traverse
Why does a conveyor belt bring characters and sets on and off this traverse stage?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The wintry worlds you traverse are bright and detailed.
The Sun (2016)
You had to traverse a small bridge to get there.
Kennedy, Douglas In God's Country: travels in the Bible belt, USA. (1989)
He is the first man to cross both polar ice caps and the first to traverse the globe from pole to pole.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They crossed the bridge and traversed the road through Southwark and out into the open country.
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss THE WOLF AND THE DOVE
They're on one half of a traverse stage that is divided by a makeshift partition.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Finally, must characters converse so often from opposite ends of the traverse stage?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That special relationship is needed for the Atlantic world to traverse the present crisis.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was probably easier to sail to other islands than traverse from one end of an island to the other through theovergrown vegetation of tropical woodlands.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The area is traversed by naval and air units of many countries, including America.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
That allowed him to traverse the Arab world, meeting hundreds of actors.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
As he traversed the globe I learnt to switch my mind off to all the dreadful disasters he may encounter.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It is staged traverse, with the cast energetically wheeling a bed back and forth, and singing from either end.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Should the road traversed be comparatively clear of opposing troops, 20 miles may be covered in a very short space of time.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Word lists with
traverse
architectural features
In other languages
traverse
British English: traverse VERB
If someone or something traverses an area of land or water, they go across it.
I traversed the narrow pedestrian bridge.
American English: traverse
Brazilian Portuguese: atravessar
Chinese: 走过
European Spanish: atravesar
French: traverser
German: durchqueren
Italian: attraversare
Japanese: 横断する
Korean: 가로지르다
European Portuguese: atravessar
Latin American Spanish: atravesar
1 (verb)
Definition
to move over or back and forth over
I traversed the narrow pedestrian bridge.
Synonyms
cross
Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing.
go across
travel over
make your way across
cover
It would not be easy to cover ten miles on that amount of petrol.
range
They range widely in search of carrion.
bridge
a tree used to bridge the river
negotiate
I negotiated the corner on my motorbike.
wander
He wandered aimlessly around the garden.
go over
span
the humped iron bridge spanning the railway
roam
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
ply
2 (verb)
Definition
to reach across
a steep-sided valley traversed by streams
Synonyms
cut across
pass over
stretch across
extend across
lie across
3 (verb)
Synonyms
oppose
Mr Taylor was bitter towards those who had opposed him.
deny
She denied the accusations.
counter
They discussed a plan to counter the effects of such a blockade.
frustrate
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
thwart
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
hinder
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
go against
obstruct
The authorities are obstructing the investigation.
impede
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
counteract
Many countries within the region are planning measures to counteract a missile attack.
balk
contravene
This deportation order contravenes basic human rights.
4 (verb)
Synonyms
examine
He examined her passport and stamped it.
eye
We eyed each other thoughtfully.
consider
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
study
I invite every citizen to carefully study the document.
check
Check the accuracy of every detail in your CV.
Get a mechanic to check the car out for you before you buy it.
review
He reviewed the troops.
investigate
Gas officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
scan
She scanned the advertisement pages of the newspaper.
look into
inspect
Cut the fruit in half and inspect the pips.
look over
pore over
scrutinize
She scrutinized his features.
range over
Additional synonyms
in the sense of balk
Definition
to thwart, check, or foil
Synonyms
foil,
check,
bar,
defeat,
prevent,
frustrate,
baffle,
thwart,
hinder,
obstruct,
counteract,
disconcert,
forestall
in the sense of bridge
Definition
to build or provide a bridge over (something)
a tree used to bridge the river
Synonyms
span,
cross,
go over,
cross over,
traverse,
reach across,
extend across,
arch over
in the sense of check
Definition
to examine, investigate, or make an inquiry into
Check the accuracy of every detail in your CV.Get a mechanic to check the car out for you before you buy it.
Synonyms
examine,
test,
study,
look at,
research,
note,
confirm,
investigate,
monitor,
probe,
tick,
vet,
inspect,
look over,
verify,
work over,
scrutinize,
make sure of,
inquire into,
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
parse
Nearby words of
traverse
travel
traveller
travelling
traverse
travesty
trawl
treacherous
Synonyms of 'traverse'
traverse
Explore 'traverse' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of consider
Definition
to think carefully about (a problem or decision)
Consider how much you can afford to pay.
Synonyms
think about,
study,
reflect on,
examine,
weigh,
contemplate,
deliberate,
muse,
ponder,
revolve,
meditate,
work over,
mull over,
eye up,
ruminate,
chew over,
cogitate,
turn over in your mind
in the sense of contravene
This deportation order contravenes basic human rights.
Synonyms
conflict with,
cross,
oppose,
interfere with,
thwart,
contradict,
hinder,
go against,
refute,
counteract
in the sense of counter
Definition
to oppose or act against
They discussed a plan to counter the effects of such a blockade.
Synonyms
oppose,
meet,
block,
resist,
offset,
parry,
deflect,
repel,
rebuff,
fend off,
counteract,
ward off,
stave off,
repulse,
obviate (formal),
hold at bay
in the sense of counteract
Definition
to act against or neutralize
Many countries within the region are planning measures to counteract a missile attack.
Synonyms
act against,
check,
defeat,
prevent,
oppose,
resist,
frustrate,
foil,
thwart,
hinder,
cross
in the sense of cover
Definition
to travel over
It would not be easy to cover ten miles on that amount of petrol.
Synonyms
travel over,
cross,
traverse,
pass through or over,
range
in the sense of deny
Definition
to declare (a statement) to be untrue
She denied the accusations.
Synonyms
contradict,
oppose,
counter,
disagree with,
rebuff,
negate,
rebut,
refute,
gainsay (archaic, literary)
in the sense of eye
Definition
to look at carefully or warily
We eyed each other thoughtfully.
Synonyms
look at,
view,
study,
watch,
check,
regard,
survey,
clock (British, slang),
observe,
stare at,
scan,
contemplate,
check out (informal),
inspect,
glance at,
gaze at,
behold (archaic, literary),
eyeball (slang),
scrutinize,
peruse,
get a load of (informal),
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
have or take a look at
in the sense of frustrate
Definition
to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
The government has deliberately frustrated his efforts.
Synonyms
thwart,
stop,
check,
block,
defeat,
disappoint,
counter,
confront,
spoil,
foil,
baffle,
inhibit,
hobble,
balk,
circumvent,
forestall,
neutralize,
stymie,
nullify,
render null and void,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of hinder
Definition
to get in the way of (someone or something)
Landslides are continuing to hinder the arrival of relief supplies.
Synonyms
obstruct,
stop,
check,
block,
prevent,
arrest,
delay,
oppose,
frustrate,
handicap,
interrupt,
slow down,
deter,
hamstring,
hamper,
thwart,
retard,
impede,
hobble,
stymie,
encumber,
throw a spanner in the works,
trammel,
hold up or back
in the sense of impede
Definition
to block or make progress or action difficult
Fallen rocks are impeding the progress of rescue workers.
Synonyms
hinder,
stop,
slow (down),
check,
bar,
block,
delay,
hold up,
brake,
disrupt,
curb,
restrain,
hamper,
thwart,
clog,
obstruct,
retard,
encumber,
cumber,
throw a spanner in the works of (British, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inspect
Definition
to examine closely, esp. for faults or errors
Cut the fruit in half and inspect the pips.
Synonyms
examine,
check,
look at,
view,
eye,
survey,
observe,
scan,
check out (informal),
look over,
eyeball (slang),
scrutinize,
give (something or someone) the once-over (informal),
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
go over or through
in the sense of investigate
Definition
to inquire into (a situation or problem) thoroughly in order to discover the truth
Gas officials are investigating the cause of the explosion.
Synonyms
examine,
study,
research,
consider,
go into,
explore,
search for,
analyse,
look into,
inspect,
look over,
sift,
probe into,
work over,
scrutinize,
inquire into,
make inquiries about,
enquire into
in the sense of negotiate
Definition
to succeed in passing round or over (a place or a problem)
I negotiated the corner on my motorbike.
Synonyms
get round,
clear,
pass,
cross,
pass through,
get over,
get past,
surmount,
handle
in the sense of obstruct
Definition
to make progress or activity difficult
The authorities are obstructing the investigation.
Synonyms
impede,
prevent,
frustrate,
hold up,
slow down,
hamstring,
interfere with,
hamper,
hold back,
thwart,
hinder,
retard,
get in the way of,
trammel,
cumber
in the sense of range
Definition
to roam (over)
They range widely in search of carrion.
Synonyms
roam,
explore,
wander,
rove,
sweep,
cruise,
stroll,
ramble,
traverse,
go walkabout (Australian)
in the sense of review
Definition
to inspect formally or officially
He reviewed the troops.
Synonyms
inspect,
check,
survey,
examine,
vet,
check out (informal),
scrutinize,
give (something or someone) the once-over (informal)
in the sense of roam
Definition
to walk about with no fixed purpose or direction
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
Synonyms
wander,
walk,
range,
travel,
drift,
stroll,
stray,
ramble,
prowl,
meander,
rove,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of scan
Definition
to glance over quickly
She scanned the advertisement pages of the newspaper.
Synonyms
glance over,
skim,
look over,
eye,
check,
clock (British, slang),
examine,
check out (informal),
run over,
eyeball (slang),
size up (informal),
get a load of (informal),
look someone up and down,
run your eye over,
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
surf
in the sense of scrutinize
Definition
to examine carefully or in minute detail
She scrutinized his features.
Synonyms
examine,
study,
inspect,
research,
search,
investigate,
explore,
probe,
analyse,
scan,
sift,
dissect,
work over,
pore over,
peruse,
inquire into,
go over with a fine-tooth comb
in the sense of span
Definition
to stretch or extend across, over, or around
the humped iron bridge spanning the railway
Synonyms
extend across,
cross,
bridge,
cover,
link,
vault,
traverse,
range over,
arch across
Additional synonyms
in the sense of study
Definition
to investigate or examine (something) by observation and research
I invite every citizen to carefully study the document.
Synonyms
contemplate,
read,
examine,
consider,
go into,
con (archaic),
pore over,
scrutinize,
peruse,
apply yourself (to)
in the sense of thwart
Definition
to prevent or foil
They were doing all they could to thwart the opposition.
Synonyms
frustrate,
stop,
foil,
check,
defeat,
prevent,
oppose,
snooker,
baffle,
hinder,
obstruct,
impede,
balk,
outwit,
stymie,
cook someone's goose (informal),
put a spoke in someone's wheel (informal)
in the sense of wander
Definition
to walk about in a place without any definite purpose or destination