Traverse

Quick meaning: Traverse is a noun meaning (climbing) A route used in mountaineering, specifically rock climbing, in which the descent occurs by a different route than the ascent.

Meaning

(climbing) A route used in mountaineering, specifically rock climbing, in which the descent occurs by a different route than the ascent.

More Meanings

1. Something that thwarts or obstructs.
2. (architecture) A gallery or loft of communication from side to side of a church or other large building.
3. (nautical) The zigzag course or courses made by a ship in passing from one place to another; a compound course.
4. (geometry) A line lying across a figure or other lines; a transversal.
5. (surveying) A series of points, with angles and distances measured between, traveled around a subject, usually for use as "control" i.e. angular reference system for later surveying work.
6. (law) A formal denial of some matter of fact alleged by the opposite party in any stage of the pleadings. The technical words introducing a traverse are absque hoc ("without this", i.e. without what follows).
7. (obsolete) A screen or partition.

Example Sentences

At the entrance of the king, / The first traverse was drawn.

He will have to traverse the mountain to get to the other side.

He will succeed, as long as there are no unlucky traverses not under his control.

At night, when the Federal guns slowed their fire, the men created new traverses and bombproofs.

Word Forms

• traverses
• traversing
• traversed

Synonyms for traverse

Depending on context, synonyms include sweep, cover, track, span, cross, deny.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include crossbeam, crosspiece, sweep, transom, cover, track.

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