\Tread\, v. i. [imp. {Trod}; p. p. {Trodden}, {Trod}; p.
pr. & vb. n. {Treading}.] [OE. treden, AS. tredan; akin to
OFries. treda, OS. tredan, D. & LG. treden, G. treten, OHG.
tretan, Icel. tro?a, Sw. tr[*a]da, tr["a]da, Dan. tr[ae]de,
Goth. trudan, and perhaps ultimately to F. tramp; cf. Gr. ? a
running, Skr. dram to run. Cf. {Trade}, {Tramp}, {Trot}.]
1. To set the foot; to step.
         Where'er you tread, the blushing flowers shall rise.
                                               --Pope.
         Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. --Pope.
         The hard stone Under our feet, on which we tread and
         go.                                   --Chaucer.
2. To walk or go; especially, to walk with a stately or a
   cautious step.
         Ye that . . . stately tread, or lowly creep.
                                               --Milton.
3. To copulate; said of birds, esp. the males. --Shak.
{To tread on} or {upon}.
   (a) To trample; to set the foot on in contempt. ``Thou
       shalt tread upon their high places.'' --Deut. xxxiii.
       29.
   (b) to follow closely. ``Year treads on year.''
       --Wordsworth.
{To tread upon the heels of}, to follow close upon.
   ``Dreadful consequences that tread upon the heels of those
   allowances to sin.'' --Milton.
         One woe doth tread upon another's heel. --Shak.

\Tread\, v. t.
1. To step or walk on.
         Forbid to tread the promised land he saw. --Prior.
         Methought she trod the ground with greater grace.
                                               --Dryden.
2. To beat or press with the feet; as, to tread a path; to
   tread land when too light; a well-trodden path.
3. To go through or accomplish by walking, dancing, or the
   like. `` I am resolved to forsake Malta, tread a
   pilgrimage to fair Jerusalem.'' --Beau. & Fl.
         They have measured many a mile, To tread a measure
         with you on this grass.               --Shak.
4. To crush under the foot; to trample in contempt or hatred;
   to subdue.
         Through thy name will we tread them under that rise
         up against us.                        --Ps. xliv. 5.
5. To copulate with; to feather; to cover; -- said of the
   male bird. --Chaucer.
{To tread out}, to press out with the feet; to press out, as
   wine or wheat; as, to tread out grain with cattle or
   horses.
{To tread the stage}, to act as a stageplayer; to perform a
   part in a drama.

\Tread\, n.
1. A step or stepping; pressure with the foot; a footstep;
   as, a nimble tread; a cautious tread.
         She is coming, my own, my sweet; Were it ever so
         airy a tread, My heart would hear her and beat.
                                               --Tennyson.
2. Manner or style of stepping; action; gait; as, the horse
   has a good tread.
3. Way; track; path. [R.] --Shak.
4. The act of copulation in birds.
5. (Arch.) The upper horizontal part of a step, on which the
   foot is placed.
6. (Fort.) The top of the banquette, on which soldiers stand
   to fire over the parapet.
7. (Mach.)
   (a) The part of a wheel that bears upon the road or rail.
   (b) The part of a rail upon which car wheels bear.
8. (Biol.) The chalaza of a bird's egg; the treadle.
9. (Far.) A bruise or abrasion produced on the foot or ankle
   of a horse that interferes. See {Interfere}, 3.