traverse
1 of 3verb
tra·verse trə-ˈvərs 
also tra-ˈvərs,
or
ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs traversed; traversing
transitive verb
1
a
: to go or travel across or over
b
: to move or pass along or through
light rays traversing a crystal
2
: to make a study of : examine
3
: to lie or extend across : cross
the bridge traverses a brook
4
a
: to move to and fro over or along
b
: to ascend, descend, or cross (a slope or gap) at an angle
c
: to move (a gun) to right or left on a pivot
5
a
: to go against or act in opposition to : oppose, thwart
b
: to deny (something, such as an allegation of fact or an indictment) formally at law
6
: to make or carry out a survey of by using traverses
intransitive verb
1
: to move back and forth or from side to side
2
: to move or turn laterally : swivel
3
a
: to climb at an angle or in a zigzag course
b
: to ski across rather than straight down a hill
4
: to make a survey by using traverses
traversable
trə-ˈvər-sə-bəl
adjective also tra-ˈvər-
or ˈtra-(ˌ)vər-
traverser noun
traverse
2 of 3noun
tra·verse ˈtra-vərs
also -ˌvərs,
especially for senses 6 and 8 also
trə-ˈvərs or tra-ˈvərs
1
: something that crosses or lies across
2
: obstacle, adversity
3
: a formal denial of a matter of fact alleged by the opposing party in a legal pleading
4
a
: a compartment or recess formed by a partition, curtain, or screen
b
: a gallery or loft providing access from one side to another in a large building
5
: a route or way across or over: such as
a
: a zigzag course of a sailing ship with contrary winds
b
: a curving or zigzag way up a steep grade
c
: the course followed in traversing
6
: the act or an instance of traversing : crossing
7
: a protective projecting wall or bank of earth in a trench
8
a
: a lateral movement (as of the saddle of a lathe carriage)
also : a device for imparting such movement
b
: the lateral movement of a gun about a pivot or on a carriage to change direction of fire
9
: a line surveyed across a plot of ground
traverse
3 of 3adjective
tra·verse ˈtra-(ˌ)vərs trə-ˈvərs
trə-ˈvərs tra-ˈvərs
: lying across : transverse
Synonyms
Verb
- course
- cover
- cross
- cut (across)
- follow
- go
- navigate
- pass (over)
- perambulate
- peregrinate
- proceed (along)
- track
- transit
- travel
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The candidates traversed the state throughout the campaign. The river traverses the county.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jarrette Werk, oregonlive, 26 Aug. 2022 If all goes as planned, mountain bikers, off-road bikers and hikers would flood in, drawn by the opportunity to traverse from town to town a la the Swiss Alps. Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2022 Before the war, Russia had roughly 3,000 heavy tanks, prized for combining a lethal cannon with heavy protection and the ability to traverse rough terrain. Robert Wall And Daniel Michaels, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022 The bearing pad is a piece of the bridge smashed between the bridge deck, where drivers traverse the highway, and the support structures, like the concrete beams that hold up the bridge. Jay R. Jordan, Chron, 10 June 2022 Imagine stepping into a time machine, one that could traverse not only billions of years but also countless light-years of space, all in search of life in the universe. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2018 Its maiden voyage will traverse hundreds of destinations across six continents, and stops at ports are expected to span between one and five days. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2022 As the Covid-19 pandemic has shown, infectious diseases can easily traverse long distances, especially among unvaccinated people. Martha Rebour, STAT, 7 Aug. 2022 Hikers traverse one of many social trails that break off of the Grandeur Peak Face Trail, which starts at the north end of Wasatch Boulevard, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 al, 26 July 2022 Mammoth offers a few routes, from easy to difficult, that traverse the Caldera Overlook. Sal Vaglica, USA TODAY, 18 June 2022 Rimml likely fell on the steep traverse between Denali Pass at 18,200 feet (5,547 meters) and the 17,200-foot plateau, a notoriously treacherous stretch of the West Buttress route, officials said. CBS News, 7 May 2022 This gravel route parallels the former Fernley and Lassen Railroad line that runs through California’s Lassen County, with stretches that traverse Susan River Canyon and numerous historic tunnels. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2022 Sitting on two sides of a long and narrow traverse stage in a theater that seats 60, viewers are not only close to the actors but also face-to-face with each other, fostering electric audience reactions. Emily Mcclanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2022 Their experience began on 2 August at ∼2100 local time and lasted until dawn the following morning, for a total traverse time of roughly 8 hours. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Do traverse rods still use the same cord and pully system to move clips or pins across a track to open and close the panels? Catherine Gaugh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2022 In total, 13 climbers have died in falls along that traverse, the NPS said. Paradise Afshar, CNN, 7 May 2022 David Drai, Forbes, 3 May 2022 How should marketers traverse this quickly evolving space? Matthew Lieberman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022 Finland’s Finnair has been forced to reroute many of its flights from the region that its aircraft typically traverse. Emma Brown, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 The route would have taken them through quiet countryside a few centuries ago, but today sees them traverse the busy city. CNN, 24 Oct. 2021 Common backpacking circumstances that warrant a dedicated ice pick include the need to clear and traverse snowy trails, as well as preparation of backcountry campsites and removal of ice from hard surfaces including wood, rock, and asphalt. Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2021 The Fairhope parade will include lining up floats parked along Section Street and have vehicles traverse along the parade route. al, 27 Nov. 2020 See More
Verb
The ride will traverse the city from the downtown waterfront area to Laurelhurst Park before ending at Portland State University’s Native American Student and Community Center. Jarrette Werk, oregonlive, 26 Aug. 2022 If all goes as planned, mountain bikers, off-road bikers and hikers would flood in, drawn by the opportunity to traverse from town to town a la the Swiss Alps. Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2022 Before the war, Russia had roughly 3,000 heavy tanks, prized for combining a lethal cannon with heavy protection and the ability to traverse rough terrain. Robert Wall And Daniel Michaels, WSJ, 17 Mar. 2022 The bearing pad is a piece of the bridge smashed between the bridge deck, where drivers traverse the highway, and the support structures, like the concrete beams that hold up the bridge. Jay R. Jordan, Chron, 10 June 2022 Imagine stepping into a time machine, one that could traverse not only billions of years but also countless light-years of space, all in search of life in the universe. Lee Billings, Scientific American, 24 Jan. 2018 Its maiden voyage will traverse hundreds of destinations across six continents, and stops at ports are expected to span between one and five days. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2022 As the Covid-19 pandemic has shown, infectious diseases can easily traverse long distances, especially among unvaccinated people. Martha Rebour, STAT, 7 Aug. 2022 Hikers traverse one of many social trails that break off of the Grandeur Peak Face Trail, which starts at the north end of Wasatch Boulevard, on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. Julie Jag, The Salt Lake Tribune, 5 Aug. 2022 Noun
Lines stretching along sidewalks, across parking lots and down streets took days to traverse, with folks there having to camp out overnight. al, 26 July 2022 Mammoth offers a few routes, from easy to difficult, that traverse the Caldera Overlook. Sal Vaglica, USA TODAY, 18 June 2022 Rimml likely fell on the steep traverse between Denali Pass at 18,200 feet (5,547 meters) and the 17,200-foot plateau, a notoriously treacherous stretch of the West Buttress route, officials said. CBS News, 7 May 2022 This gravel route parallels the former Fernley and Lassen Railroad line that runs through California’s Lassen County, with stretches that traverse Susan River Canyon and numerous historic tunnels. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 11 Mar. 2022 Sitting on two sides of a long and narrow traverse stage in a theater that seats 60, viewers are not only close to the actors but also face-to-face with each other, fostering electric audience reactions. Emily Mcclanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 July 2022 Their experience began on 2 August at ∼2100 local time and lasted until dawn the following morning, for a total traverse time of roughly 8 hours. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Do traverse rods still use the same cord and pully system to move clips or pins across a track to open and close the panels? Catherine Gaugh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 May 2022 In total, 13 climbers have died in falls along that traverse, the NPS said. Paradise Afshar, CNN, 7 May 2022 Adjective
Similarly, some projects are simply too big or traverse too many internal silos to be handled by a single AI tool. David Drai, Forbes, 3 May 2022 How should marketers traverse this quickly evolving space? Matthew Lieberman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2022 Finland’s Finnair has been forced to reroute many of its flights from the region that its aircraft typically traverse. Emma Brown, WSJ, 3 Mar. 2022 The route would have taken them through quiet countryside a few centuries ago, but today sees them traverse the busy city. CNN, 24 Oct. 2021 Common backpacking circumstances that warrant a dedicated ice pick include the need to clear and traverse snowy trails, as well as preparation of backcountry campsites and removal of ice from hard surfaces including wood, rock, and asphalt. Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2021 The Fairhope parade will include lining up floats parked along Section Street and have vehicles traverse along the parade route. al, 27 Nov. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French traverser, from Late Latin transversare, from Latin transversus
Noun
Middle English travers, from Anglo-French travers (as in a travers, de travers across), from Latin transversum (as in in transversum set crosswise), neuter of transversus lying across; senses 5–9 in part from traverse entry 1 — more at transverse entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 5a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing traverse
Kids Definition
traverse
verb
tra·verse trə-ˈvərs
traversed; traversing
: to pass through, across, or over
Legal Definition
traverse 1 of 2
noun
tra·verse ˈtra-ˌvərs, trə-ˈvərs
: a denial of a matter of fact alleged in the opposing party's pleadings
also : a pleading in which such a denial is made
traverse
2 of 2transitive verb
tra·verse trə-ˈvərs, ˈtra-ˌvərs
: to deny (as an allegation of fact or an indictment) in a legal proceeding
traversed
verb
as in crossed
to make one's way through, across, or over the spider traversed the wall from end to end Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- crossed
- navigated
- traveled
- followed
- walked
- travelled
- covered
- tracked
- transited
- hiked
- coursed
- perambulated
- rode
- went
- tramped
- traipsed
- peregrinated
- trod
- crisscrossed
- passed (over)
- treaded
- cut (across)
- proceeded (along)
- ran
- rid
- run