tread
gb/tɹˈɛd/ us/tɹˈɛd/
B1
English
~ 4900
rálép, lépked, tapos, óvatosan jár el, óvatosan kezel, mintázat, futófelület, talpmintázat, lépcsőfok, foklap
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to tread on [something]
Please tread carefully on the icy path.
Kérlek, óvatosan lépkedj a jeges ösvényen.
He accidentally tread on my foot.
Véletlenül rálépett a lábamra.
They tread across the muddy field without hesitation.
Tread lightly when walking near the sleeping dog.
Learner examples
Please tread on the floor slowly.
Kérlek, lassan lépkedj a padlón.
Do not tread on the flowers.
Ne taposs a virágokra.
I tread on the sand at the beach.
She treads on the path to school.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tread' with 'treat' due to similar spelling but unrelated meanings.
Meaning
Walk or step on something
Collocations
tread carefully
|tread on
|tread lightly
|tread heavily
Synonyms
step (The most common general term; 'tread' can sound slightly more formal or deliberate.)
Antonyms
fly (Opposite in the sense of moving without touching the ground.)
Themes
daily life
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To put your foot on something when you walk.
To place your foot on something as you walk or move.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to tread carefully in [a situation]
You need to tread carefully when discussing politics with him.
Óvatosan kell eljárnod, amikor politikáról beszélsz vele.
She tread cautiously around the subject of his past.
Óvatosan kerülgette a férfi múltjának témáját.
They must tread lightly to avoid upsetting the community.
Learner examples
We must tread carefully when we talk about this.
Óvatosan kell eljárnunk, amikor erről beszélünk.
He treads carefully in his new job.
Óvatosan jár el az új munkahelyén.
You should tread carefully around angry people.
Common mistake:
Learners may think it refers only to physical walking, missing the figurative meaning of caution in actions or speech.
Meaning
Proceed cautiously in a situation
Collocations
tread carefully
|tread cautiously
|tread warily
Synonyms
proceed cautiously (A more formal phrase meaning to move forward with care.)
Antonyms
rush ahead (Opposite in the sense of moving forward without caution.)
Themes
communication
|emotions
|relationships
|work
Definition
To be very careful about what you do or say in a difficult situation.
To act or proceed very carefully to avoid danger or offense, especially in sensitive situations.
NOUN
B1
3
The tire's tread is worn down and needs replacing.
A gumiabroncs futófelülete elkopott, ezért ki kell cserélni az abroncsot.
Her boots have a thick tread for hiking.
A bakancsának vastag talpmintázata van túrázáshoz.
Check the tread before buying used tires.
Learner examples
The shoe tread is dirty.
A cipő talpmintázata koszos.
My car has new tire treads.
Az autóm gumiabroncsain új a futófelület.
The boot tread is strong.
Meaning
Part of shoe or tire touching ground
Collocations
worn tread
|deep tread
|tire tread
Synonyms
sole (Refers specifically to shoes; 'tread' can refer to both shoes and tires.)
Antonyms
upper (The top part of a shoe, opposite of the bottom tread.)
Themes
transportation
|objects
|clothing
|daily_life
Definition
The bottom part of a shoe or tire that touches the ground.
The part of a shoe sole or tire that comes into contact with the ground, often with a pattern for grip.
NOUN
B2
4
The treads were made of polished oak.
A lépcsőfokok fényesre csiszolt tölgyből készültek.
He slipped on the wet stair tread.
Megcsúszott a nedves lépcsőfokon.
Each tread was wide enough for two feet.
Learner examples
The stair treads are new.
A lépcsőfokok újak.
I clean each stair tread.
Minden lépcsőfokot megtisztítok.
The stair tread is wide.
Meaning
Flat part of stair step
Collocations
stair tread
|wooden tread
Synonyms
step surface (A descriptive alternative; less common as a fixed term.)
Antonyms
riser (The vertical part of a step, opposite to the tread.)
Themes
architecture
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The flat part of a stair where you put your foot.
The horizontal part of a step on which you place your foot.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tread
IPA
GB/tɹˈɛd/
US/tɹˈɛd/
Syllables & stress
tread (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (tread)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tread
- Plural: tread, treads
Verb
- Base: tread
- 3rd Person Singular: treads
- Present Participle: treading
- Past: trod
- Past Participle: trodden
Word family
Forms
treads
noun
treading
verb
trod
verb
trodden
verb
Related words
treadmill
noun
Advanced or less common
retread
verb
Highlights
- Irregular past: trod Verb
- Irregular past participle: trodden Verb
Expressions
tread water
1/tɹˈɛd wˈɔtɚ/
fixed phrase
Stay afloat without moving forward
To keep your body up in water by moving your arms and legs without going forward.
Examples
- She can tread water for several minutes.
- He fell in but managed to tread water until help arrived.
tread carefully
1/tɹˈɛd kˈɛɹfəli/
idiom
Act with great caution
To be very careful about what you do or say.
Examples
- You should tread carefully when giving criticism.
- They are treading carefully to avoid making mistakes.
tread carefully
2/tɹˈɛd kˈɛɹfəli/
idiom
Act cautiously to avoid offense or trouble
Be careful what you do or say so you do not cause trouble.
Examples
- You need to tread carefully when discussing politics at work.
- He tread carefully around the subject of her family.
tread lightly
1/tɹˈɛd lˈaɪtli/
fixed phrase
Act gently or cautiously
To act in a gentle and careful way so you don’t cause problems.
Examples
- We need to tread lightly when discussing this topic with him.
- We need to tread lightly when dealing with this issue.
- The politician treaded lightly around the sensitive issue.
- He always treads lightly around his boss.