tread
TRED
/trɛd/
The patterned groove design molded onto the outer rubber surface of a tire to grip road surfaces and channel water away.
Refers both to tire pattern grooves (noun) and the physical action of stepping or walking (verb).
The story behind the word. From Old English 'tredan' (to step, walk, trample). The noun originally meant a step or footstep, but in the late 19th century rubber manufacturers adopted 'tread' for the molded pattern of a tire that literally steps onto the ground.
Word relationships
- grooves: 'Grooves' refers to the hollow channels cut into tire rubber, whereas 'tread' encompasses the full pattern of grooves and ridges.
Commonly confused with
- track: Track refers to continuous tank treads or ground paths, whereas tread refers to the tire surface pattern.
Word family
- trod (verb): past tense of tread
- trodden (verb): past participle of tread
Collocations
- tread depth
- tire tread
- tread wear
- deep tread
Example sentences
- "When tire tread depth wears below two-thirty-seconds of an inch, the vehicle runs a high risk of hydroplaning." Tire safety inspection
- "Winter tires feature deep tread patterns designed to bite into packed snow and slush." Winter tire feature explanation
Memory hook
You TREAD on the path; tire TREAD touches the road. Tire pattern that steps on the road.
When not to use
Do not use to refer to inner tire tubes or metal wheel rims.
Fun facts
- Racing slick tires have zero tread pattern because dry track racing requires maximum surface contact, but on wet roads slick tires lose traction almost instantly.
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.