English Words in Action, Group T

1. Without touching the ground or without any patterns on the bottom of shoes, boots, or tires: It was obvious that Ned needed new shoes because they were completely treadless from years of use.
2. The parts of wheels or tires that make contact with roads or rails and which are without patterns of ridges, or grooves, and that are non-existent on tires: It is very dangerous to drive a car with treadless tires because it is much easier to slip or to slide out of control.

Stepping, walking, or pressing down into the ground or onto another surface with the feet: Too many people have been treadling on dropped or spilled food on the carpet in the hallway that led into and out of the snack bar and so it had to be cleaned several times each day.

1. An exercise machine that has a large flat belt that moves while someone walks or runs on it: Whenever Klaus went to the fitness studio, he spent about forty-five minutes running on the treadmill.

The treadmill was invented and named in 1822 by William Cubitt of Ipswich, England; and it was originally an instrument used for prison discipline.

2. A similar exercise mechanism that is operated by quadrupeds; such as, horses: The dog owner had a treadmill for her dog so it could get more exercise in the city apartment.
3. A boring or tiring activity, job, etc., in which a person repeatedly does the same things again and again: The office treadmill and the treadmill of exhausting family schedules made it necessary for Aileen to go on a vacation.

Gavin was getting tired of working on the project treadmill because no matter how much effort he and the others put into it, nothing was being accomplished.

4. A system consisting of a large wheel with steps fitted into its inner surface which was formerly used for operating machinery: Some previous treadmills were turned by the weight of people who were treading on steps so the equipment could manufacture products.

The roadway on certain kinds of bridges: Workmen were renewing the old treadway that goes across the river from the village.

1. Descriptive of an opinion, a criticism, or an observation, which is very strong and disturbing: Bruce made a trenchant analysis of the reasons for the losses in sales of his company.

As a reporter, Debora was known to have trenchant writing skills.

2. Etymology: from Old French trenchier, "to cut, to be incisive." © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A person with a healthy appetite and who eats substantial amounts of food: Tom's friends called him a trencherman because he loved to go to restaurants and to consume generous dinners as if he were starving!
2. Etymology: from Latin truncare, "to lop"; from French tranchoir; from trenchier, "to cut, to carve" + Old English mann, "human being, a person, a man". © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. A general direction in which something is developing or changing: There is a downward trend in sales and profit margins these days.
2. A way of behaving or proceeding which is developing and becoming more common: The trends of the stock market are up sometimes and then they are down at other times.

Digital technology is the current trend in television.

Many teachers are trying to reverse the general trend of lower test scores in schools.

His trend against hiring more workers is a result of receiving lower profits.

3. In medicine, the inclination to proceed in a certain direction or at a certain rate: Helena's doctor explained his recommended trend for the healing of her illness.

1. To change or to develop in a general direction: The unemployment rate has been trending upward.
2. To bend or to turn away in a specified course: The Severn River trends toward Lake Ontario.
3. To show a tendency or movement toward something or in a particular way: Public opinion is trending against being involved in another war.

Unemployed people have trended toward frustration and hopelessness because they can't find a way to take care of themselves financially.

4. To extend, to incline, or to veer in a specified course: The prevailing wind in the weather forecast trends toward the east.

According to some people, the gender gap seems to be trending down.

5. Etymology: "to run" or "to bend in a certain direction"; developed from Middle English trenden, "roll around, turn, revolve"; found in Old English trendan, related to trinda, trinde, "round lump, ball", and trendel, "circle, ring, disk"; derived from the same word in the ancestral language of Old Frisian trind, trund, "round"; then Middle Low German trendel, "disk, spinning top" which is Trendel in modern German.

A mark indicating the general course or tendency of something; such as, a geographical feature or a set of points on a graph: The trend lines on the chart show the differences between employment and unemployment for the previous month.

Being very fashionable or up-to-date: Joshua tries to avoid excessive trendiness when he buys new clothes.

1. Relating to or exemplifying the latest fashion: We decided to eat at the new trendy restaurant.
2. Reflecting the latest fad by deliberately reflecting or adopting fashionable, often faddish, ideas or tastes: More and more people have become part of the trendiest mobile phone systems than ever before. © ALL rights are reserved.

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1. To trap, to trick, or to ensnare someone or something: Susan tried to trepan her brother into giving her $10 for a book instead of the actual price of $5!
2. Etymology: from Greek trypanon and Latin trepanum, an archaic term that literally meant, "a borer" which was a surgical intervention in which a hole was drilled or scraped into the human skull, exposing the thick membrane made of dense irregular connective tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to treat health problems related to intracranial diseases or to release pressured blood buildup from an injury.

Supposedly, in ancient times, holes were drilled into people who were behaving in what was considered an abnormal way in order to let out what was believed were evil spirits.

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1. An assembly including one or more judges to conduct judicial business: A legal court is a tribunal and often a government institution with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil and criminal issues in accordance with the rules of law.
2. Etymology: from Latin tribunal, "raised platform provided for magistrate's seats", from tribunus, "an official in ancient Rome, a magistrate," literally "head of a tribe." © ALL rights are reserved.
© ALL rights are reserved.

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1. An agreement between opponents or enemies to stop arguing or fighting, and to have a cease-fire or suspension of hostilities for a period of time: The violence between the protestors and the police was so vicious that the President of the country declared a truce in an effort to find a solution to the conflicts.

There has been an uneasy truce between Beth and her parents for the last several months about her marriage to a foreign worker.

Someone has said that a truce is when shouting or yelling replaces shooting.

2. Etymology: from Middle English trewes, trues (plural) of trewe, "a pledge, a treaty"; from Old English treow, "truth, faith, trust"; of German origin and related to Dutch trouw, German Treue, and English true.

A savageness of character or behavior: The truculence of the neighbor's dog created fear whenever anyone walked near the fence of the family's yard.