Tread

tred, r. i. [imp. trod; p.p. trod, trodden; treading.] To set the foot; to walk or go; to copulate, as birds. — v.t. To step or walk on; to beat or pre with the feet; to crush under the foot; to trample; to copulate with, feather, cover, — said of the male bird. — n. A step or stepping; act of copulation in birds; manner of stepping; gait. (Arch.) Horizontal part of a step, on which the foot is placed. (Fort.) Top of the banquet on which soldiers stand to fire. (Mach.) The part of a wheel that bears upon the road or rail; the part of a rail upon which car-wheels bear. — To tread on or upon. To follow closely.— To t. upon the heels of. To follow close upon. — Tread'le,-l,n. The part of a loom, or other machine, which is moved by the foot. — Tread'mill, n. A m i 1 1 worked by persons treading on steps upon the periphery of a wide horizontal wheel: it is used chiefly as a means of prison discipline. linger or ink, then, boNboN, chair, get. 474