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¹walk

verb \ˈwȯk\

: to move with your legs at a speed that is slower than running

: to go with (someone) to a place by walking : to walk with (someone)

: to cause (an animal) to go for a walk with you : to take (an animal) for a walk

Full Definition of WALK

intransitive verb

a obsolete : roam, wander

b of a spirit : to move about in visible form : appear

c of a ship : to make headway

a : to move along on foot : advance by steps

b : to come or go easily or readily

c : to go on foot for exercise or pleasure

d : to go at a walk

a : to pursue a course of action or way of life : conduct oneself : behave <walk warily>

b : to be or act in association : continue in union <the British and American peoples will…walk together side by side … in peace — Sir Winston Churchill>

c : walk out <walked over problems with management>

: to go to first base as a result of a base on balls

of an inanimate object

a : to move in a manner that is suggestive of walking

b : to stand with an appearance suggestive of strides <pylons walking across the valley>

of an astronaut : to move about in space outside a spacecraft

: to avoid criminal prosecution or conviction <walked on a technicality>

transitive verb

a : to pass on foot or as if on foot through, along, over, or upon : traverse, perambulate <walk the streets> <walk a tightrope>

b : to perform or accomplish by going on foot <walk guard>

a : to cause (an animal) to go at a walk : take for a walk <walking a dog>

b (1) : to cause to move by walking <walked her bicycle up the hill> (2) : to haul (as an anchor) by walking round the capstan

: to follow on foot for the purpose of measuring, surveying, or inspecting <walk a boundary>

a : to accompany on foot : walk with <walked her home>

b : to compel to walk (as by a command)

c : to bring to a specified condition by walking <walked us off our feet>

: to move (an object) in a manner suggestive of walking

: to perform (a dance) at a walking pace <walk a quadrille>

: to give a base on balls to

— walk away from

: to outrun or get the better of without difficulty

: to survive (an accident) with little or no injury

: to give up or leave behind willingly : abandon

— walk off with

a : to steal and take away

b : to take over unexpectedly from someone else : steal 1d <walked off with the show>

: to win or gain especially by outdoing one's competitors without difficulty

— walk on

: to take advantage of : abuse

— walk on eggshells or walk on eggs

: to exercise extreme caution

— walk over

: to treat contemptuously

— walk the plank

: to walk under compulsion over the side of a ship into the sea

: to resign an office or position under compulsion

— walk through

: to go through (as a theatrical role or familiar activity) perfunctorily (as in an early stage of rehearsal)

: to guide (as a novice) through an unfamiliar or complex procedure step-by-step

: to deal with or carry out perfunctorily

See walk defined for English-language learners

See walk defined for kids

Origin of WALK

partly from Middle English walken (past welk, past participle walken), from Old English wealcan to roll, toss, journey about (past weolc, past participle wealcen) and partly from Middle English walkien (past walked, past participle walked), from Old English wealcian to roll up, muffle up; akin to Middle Dutch walken to knead, press, full

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WALK

Synonyms: ambulate, foot (it), hoof (it), leg (it), pad, step, traipse, tread

Rhymes with WALK

auk, balk, calk, caulk, chalk, gawk, hawk, Koch, Sauk, squawk, stalk, talk

²walk

noun

: an act of walking : an act of going somewhere by walking

: a place or path for walking

: an organized event in which people walk to raise money for a particular cause or group

Full Definition of WALK

a : an act or instance of going on foot especially for exercise or pleasure <go for a walk>

b : space walk

: an accustomed place of walking : haunt

: a place designed for walking:

a : a railed platform above the roof of a dwelling house

b (1) : a path specially arranged or paved for walking (2) : sidewalk

c : a public avenue for promenading : promenade

d : ropewalk

: a place or area of land in which animals feed and exercise with minimal restraint

: distance to be walked <a quarter mile walk from here>

British : a ceremonial procession

: manner of living : conduct, behavior

a : the gait of a biped in which the feet are lifted alternately with one foot not clear of the ground before the other touches

b : the gait of a quadruped in which there are always at least two feet on the ground; specifically : a 4-beat gait of a horse in which the feet strike the ground in the sequence near hind, near fore, off hind, off fore

c : a low rate of speed <the shortage of raw materials slowed production to a walk>

: a route regularly traversed by a person in the performance of a particular activity (as patrolling, begging, or vending)

: characteristic manner of walking <his walk is just like his father's>

a : social or economic status <all walks of life>

b (1) : range or sphere of action : field, province (2) : vocation

: base on balls

: an easy victory <won in a walk>

— walk in the park

: an easy or pleasurable experience

See walk defined for English-language learners