WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
path /pæθ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. paths (paᵺz, paths).
-path-, root.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a way or small passage on the ground beaten by human or animal feet:a path through the woods.
- a narrow walk or way:a bicycle path.
- a route, course, or track along which something moves:the path of a hurricane.
- a course or direction of action, conduct, or procedure:What path should we follow in hiring a new secretary?
- Computing(in computer operating systems)
- a listing of the route through directories that locates and names a certain file or program on a disk drive.
-path-, root.
- -path- comes from Greek, where it has the meaning "suffering;
disease;
feeling.'' This meaning is found in such words as: antipathy, apathetic, apathy, empathy, homeopathy, pathetic, pathology, pathos, psychopath, sympathetic, sympathize, sympathy, telepathy.
path
(path, päth),USA pronunciation n., pl. paths (paᵺz, päᵺz, paths, päths).
path-,
-path,
path.,
- a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals.
- a narrow walk or way: a path through a garden;
a bicycle path. - a route, course, or track along which something moves: the path of a hurricane.
- a course of action, conduct, or procedure: the path of righteousness.
- MathematicsMath. a continuous curve that connects two or more points.
- Computingthe sequence of steps that a computer follows in carrying out a routine, as in storing and retrieving a file at a specific location.
- Idioms cross one's path, to encounter or meet unexpectedly: Tragedy crossed our path again.
- bef. 900; Middle English; Old English pæth; cognate with German Pfad
- 1. footpath, pathway. Path, lane, trail are passages or routes not as wide as a way or road. A path is a way for passing on foot; a track, beaten by feet, not specially constructed, is often along the side of a road: a path through a field. A lane is a narrow road or track, generally between fields, often enclosed with fences or trees; sometimes it is an alley or narrow road between buildings in towns: a lane leading to a farmhouse; Drury Lane. A trail is a rough way made or worn through woods, or across mountains, prairies, or other untraveled regions: an Indian trail.
path-,
- var. of patho- before a vowel: pathosis.
-path,
- a combining form occurring in personal nouns corresponding to abstract nouns ending in -pathy, with the general sense "one practicing such a treatment'' (osteopath) or "one suffering from such an ailment'' ( psychopath).
path.,
- Pathologypathological.
- Pathologypathology.
'-path-' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
another
- antistatic
- approach
- astray
- athwart
- azimuth
- beat
- berm
- blaze
- border
- borrow
- bridle path
- Buddha
- buzz
- bypass
- bypath
- career
- causeway
- centrifugal force
- centripetal force
- channel
- circuit
- clear
- cleave
- cloud chamber
- convey
- Coriolis force
- corridor
- course
- crazy paving
- critical path analysis
- cross
- crosswalk
- curve
- cut
- descend
- descent
- diffraction
- diffuser
- digress
- dive
- diverticulum
- downrange
- duckboard
- eccentricity
- ecliptic
- edging
- egress
- flight path
- footpath