street

[street]

noun

1. a public thoroughfare, usually paved, in a village, town, or city, including the sidewalk or sidewalks.

   Synonyms: concourse, roadway

2. such a thoroughfare together with adjacent buildings, lots, etc..

   Houses, lawns, and trees composed a very pleasant street.

3. the roadway of such a thoroughfare, as distinguished from the sidewalk.

   to cross a street.

4. a main way or thoroughfare, as distinguished from a lane, alley, or the like.

5. the inhabitants or frequenters of a street.

   The whole street gossiped about the new neighbors.

6. Informal.,  the Street,

   1. the section of a city associated with a given profession or trade, especially when concerned with business or finance, as Wall Street.

   2. the principal theater and entertainment district of any of a number of U.S. cities.

adjective

1. of, on, or adjoining a street.

   a street door just off the sidewalk.

2. taking place or appearing on the street.

   street fight; street musicians.

3. coarse; crude; vulgar.

   street language.

4. suitable for everyday wear.

   street clothes; street dress.

5. retail.

   the street price of a new computer; the street value of a drug.

street

/ striːt /

noun

1. 1. (capital when part of a name) a public road that is usually lined with buildings, esp in a town

      Oxford Street

   2. ( as modifier )

      a street directory

2. the buildings lining a street

3. the part of the road between the pavements, used by vehicles

4. the people living, working, etc, in a particular street

5. (modifier) of or relating to the urban counterculture

   street style

   street drug

6. an ordinary or average citizen

7. 1. earning a living as a prostitute

   2. homeless

8. informal,  superior to, more advanced than, etc

9. informal,  markedly different

10. informal,  (just) what one knows or likes best

verb

1. to outdistance

Other Word Forms

• streetless adjective
• streetlike adjective
• interstreet adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of street¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English strēt, strǣt; cognate with Dutch straat, German Strasse; all ultimately from Latin (via) strāta “paved (road)”; stratum

Word History and Origins

Origin of street¹

Old English strǣt, from Latin via strāta paved way ( strāta, from strātus, past participle of sternere to stretch out); compare Old Frisian strēte, Old High German strāza; see _stratus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on / in the street,

   1. without a home.

      You'll be out on the street if the rent isn't paid.

   2. without a job or occupation; idle.

   3. out of prison or police custody; at liberty.

2. up one's street, alley.

see back street; easy street; man in the street; on the street; side street; work both sides of the street.

Synonym Study

Street, alley, avenue, boulevard all refer to public ways or roads in municipal areas. A street is a road in a village, town, or city, especially a road lined with buildings. An alley is a narrow street or footway, especially at the rear of or between rows of buildings or lots. An avenue is properly a prominent street, often one bordered by fine residences and impressive buildings, or with a row of trees on each side. A boulevard is a beautiful, broad street, lined with rows of stately trees, especially used as a promenade. In some cities street and avenue are used interchangeably, the only difference being that those running one direction (say, north and south) are given one designation and those crossing them are given the other.

Example Sentences

The young couple fall into lust, then love, over beers in a Latin American cowboy bar, Uyghur street food and then in a shabby basement apartment.

From Los Angeles Times

First seen cycling his city’s streets day and night with a becalmed sense of ownership, Holland’s Roger is a die-hard Brooklynite none too happy with the smoothing over of his cherished neighborhoods by “obscene” money.

From Los Angeles Times

“No community should turn its back on its residents in need — especially while there are people in your community sleeping on the streets.”

From Los Angeles Times

High-rise buildings which had surrounded the tents have also been destroyed, while signs of activity on the streets have also disappeared.

From BBC

But its administration highlights how tough the "value sector of retail is finding both trading conditions and the cost of operating on UK high streets", said retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth.

From BBC

Related Words

• avenue 
• boulevard 
• court 
• highway 
• lane 
• pavement 
• place 
• road 
• roadway 
• route 
• thoroughfare 
• track 
• trail