\Road\, n. [AS. r[=a]d a riding, that on which one rides or
travels, a road, fr. r[=i]dan to ride. See {Ride}, and cf.
{Raid}.]
1. A journey, or stage of a journey. [Obs.]
         With easy roads he came to Leicester. --Shak.
2. An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.] --Spenser.
3. A place where one may ride; an open way or public passage
   for vehicles, persons, and animals; a track for travel,
   forming a means of communication between one city, town,
   or place, and another.
         The most villainous house in all the London road.
                                               --Shak.
Note: The word is generally applied to highways, and as a
      generic term it includes highway, street, and lane.
4. [Possibly akin to Icel. rei[eth]i the rigging of a ship,
   E. ready.] A place where ships may ride at anchor at some
   distance from the shore; a roadstead; -- often in the
   plural; as, Hampton Roads. --Shak.
   Now strike your saile, ye jolly mariners, For we be come
   unto a quiet rode [road].                   --Spenser.
{On}, or {Upon}, {the road}, traveling or passing over a
   road; coming or going; on the way.
         My hat and wig will soon be here, They are upon the
         road.                                 --Cowper.
{Road agent}, a highwayman, especially on the stage routes of
   the unsettled western parts of the United States; -- a
   humorous euphemism. [Western U.S.]
         The highway robber -- road agent he is quaintly
         called.                               --The century.
{Road book}, a quidebook in respect to roads and distances.
{Road metal}, the broken, stone used in macadamizing roads.
{Road roller}, a heavy roller, or combinations of rollers,
   for making earth, macadam, or concrete roads smooth and
   compact. -- often driven by steam.
{Road runner} (Zo["o]l.), the chaparral cock.
{Road steamer}, a locomotive engine adapted to running on
   common roads.
{To go on the road}, to engage in the business of a
   commercial traveler. [Colloq.]
{To take the road}, to begin or engage in traveling.
{To take to the road}, to engage in robbery upon the
   highways.
Syn: Way; highway; street; lane; pathway; route; passage;
     course. See {Way}.