Longman Dictionary English

Explore Roads Topic
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Related topics: Roads
roadroad /rəʊd $ roʊd/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 1 [countable, uncountable]TTR a specially prepared hard surface for cars, buses, bicycles etc to travel on → street, motorway, freewayalong the road I was driving along the road when a kid suddenly stepped out in front of me.up the road You’ll see the library a bit further up the road.down the road I ran down the road to see what was happening. My sister lives just down the road.in the road Protestors sat down in the road to stop the lorries.in the middle of the road Someone was standing in the middle of the road.across the road I ran across the road to meet him.by road The college is easily accessible by road.on the road There are far more cars on the road now than there used to be. There were lots of cars parked on the road.2 → Road3 → on the road4 → the road to something5 → go down a/this road6 → along/down the road7 → one for the road8 → road to Damascus → the end of the road at end1(16), → hit the road at hit1(13)USAGE: Up/down the roadYou often use the phrases up the road and down the road when saying that someone or something is not far away, on the same road: She lives just up the road from us. The post office is down the road on the right. THESAURUStypes of roadroad a hard surface for cars, buses etc to drive onThey’re planning to build a new road.My address is 42, Station Road.street a road in a town, with houses or shops on each sideShe lives on our street.We walked along the streets of the old town. Oxford Street is one of Europe’s busiest shopping areas.He was stopped by the police, driving the wrong way down a one-way street. Turn left on Main Street (=the street in the middle of a town, where most of the shops are – used in American English).These days the same shops are on every high street (=the street in the middle of a town, where most of the shops are – used in British English).avenue a road in a town, often with trees on each sidethe busy avenue in front of the cathedralHe lived on Park Avenue. boulevard a wide road in a city or town – used especially in street names in the US, France etc. In the UK, streets are usually called avenue rather than boulevard the world-famous Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. lane a narrow road in the countrya winding country lanecul-de-sac a short street which is closed at one endThe house is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac in North Oxford.track especially British English, dirt road American English a narrow road in the country, usually without a hard surfaceThe farm was down a bumpy track.ring road British English a road that goes around a townThe airport is on the ring road.bypass British English a road that goes past a town, allowing traffic to avoid the centreThe bypass would take heavy traffic out of the old city centre.dual carriageway British English, divided highway American English a road with a barrier or strip of land in the middle that has lines of traffic travelling in each directionI waited until we were on the dual carriageway before I overtook him.freeway/expressway American English a very wide road in a city or between cities, on which cars can travel very fast without stoppingTake the Hollywood Freeway (101) south, exit at Vine Street and drive east on Franklin Avenue.Over on the side of the expressway, he saw an enormous sedan, up against a stone wall. motorway British English, highway American English a very wide road for travelling fast over long distancesThe speed limit on the motorway is 70 miles an hour. the Pacific Coast Highwayinterstate American English a road for fast traffic that goes between statesThe accident happened on Interstate 84, about 10 miles east of Hartford.toll road a road that you pay to useThe government is planning to introduce toll roads, in an effort to cut traffic congestion.turnpike American English a large road for fast traffic that you pay to use He dropped her off at an entrance to the New Jersey Turnpike.COLLOCATIONSADJECTIVES/NOUN + roadbusy (=with a lot of traffic)The children have to cross a busy road to get to school.quiet (=with little traffic)At that time of night, the roads were quiet.clear (=with no traffic or nothing blocking it)Before you overtake, make sure the road is clear.a main road (=an important road that is used a lot)The main road was blocked for twenty-five minutes.a minor roadFrance has a huge network of minor roads.a side road/a back road (=a small road that is not used much)He drove into a quiet side road and stopped the car.a country roadHe was driving along a quiet country road when a tyre suddenly burst.a mountain roadA lot of concentration is needed on the narrow mountain roads.the coast roadHe continued along the coast road.the open road (=a road without much traffic or anything to stop you getting somewhere)This car is at its best on the open road.a road is open (=it is not closed or blocked)We try to keep the mountain road open for most of the year. a road is closedThe mountain road was closed by snow.a road is blockedThe main road was blocked for an hour while police cleared the accident. verbscross a roadShe was standing on the pavement waiting to cross the road.run out into a roadHe had to swerve when a child ran out into the road.a road leads/goes/runs somewhereWe turned into the road leading to the village.a road winds (=it turns and curves, rather than going in a straight line)A long road wound through the park.a road forks (=it starts going ahead in two different directions)At Salen, the road forks right and left.a road narrows/widensAfter a couple of miles, the road narrows.road + NOUNa road accidentHer husband was killed in a road accident.road safetyWe share parents’ concern for road safety.road sense (=knowledge of how to behave safely near traffic)Young children don’t have any road sense.a road junction (=place where two or more roads meet)It was a busy road junction.a road network (=system of roads that cross or are connected to each other)the road network in northern Francephrasesthe side of the roadWe stopped and had something to eat by the side of the road.She was standing on the other side of the road talking to my mum.the road ahead (=in front of you)The road ahead was completely flooded.a fork in the road (=a place where a road goes in two different directions)We had to ask for directions each time we got to a fork in the road.
Examples from the Corpus
road• It's amazing how many schools front busy roads.• I like driving on the French roads - they're so straight, and there isn't much traffic.• They turned left at the gas station, into the busy main road.• Route 66 used to be one of the main roads across the States.• Set on the main road - 15 minutes walk from the resort centre, local buses stop nearby.• They're building a new road around the city centre.• A recent major study of traffic problems in the Edinburgh area recognised road safety as a major factor for consideration.• I live at 37 King's Road, Birmingham.• a small Texas road• A widow lives in the house just across the road.• On the way I noticed that the pavement swayed from side to side and the road heaved up and down.• Before crossing the road, stop, look, and listen.• I went to the girls' school down the road.• I argued with him in the road.• Something was lying in the gutter by the side of the road.• So on their trip to the Coast empty they picked up everybody on the road.• As you leave the city, turn right and take the road to Madrid.• All three hurried round the side of the house and issued through the gates on to the road.• Susie used to live on this road.RoadRoad (written abbreviation Rd.)TTRNAME OF A THING used in addresses after the names of roads and streets 65 Maple Road He lives on Dudley Road. → road
Examples from the Corpus
on ... Road• Now they get knocked down on the roads.• Read in studio Heavy lorries trying to avoid higher tolls on the Severn Bridge are causing severe traffic problems on minor roads.• It was safer with them than to be on the road.• The firm is headquartered in a plush $ 2. 5 million office building on Woodside Road.• I remember watching a documentary showing Lily Tomlin putting her act together for weeks on the road.Origin road Old English rad “ride, journey”
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