boulevard

[ bool-uh-vahrd, boo-luh- ]

noun

1. a broad avenue in a city, usually having areas at the sides or center for trees, grass, or flowers.
2. Also called boulevard strip. Upper Midwest. a strip of lawn between a sidewalk and the curb.

boulevard

/ ˈbuːlvɑː; -vɑːd /

noun

1. 1. a wide usually tree-lined road in a city, often used as a promenade
   2. ( capital as part of a street name )

      Sunset Boulevard

2. 1. a grass strip between the pavement and road
   2. the strip of ground between the edge of a private property and the road
   3. the centre strip of a road dividing traffic travelling in different directions

Word History and Origins

Origin of boulevard¹

First recorded in 1765–75; from French, Middle French (originally Picard, Walloon ): “rampart, avenue built on the site of a razed rampart,” from Middle Dutch bol(le)werc; bulwark

Word History and Origins

Origin of boulevard¹

C18: from French, from Middle Dutch bolwerc bulwark ; so called because originally often built on the ruins of an old rampart

Synonym Study

See street.

Example Sentences

There it is — occupying manicured lawns in View Park, lining the boulevards of Historic Filipinotown and Little Armenia.

From Los Angeles Times

Tom Cruise’s motorcycle tour from the boulevards of Paris to the Hollywood Hills in the ceremony’s tacky finale only increased concern.

From Los Angeles Times

But it’s densely populated too, and that combination of pedestrian traffic and the cars zooming along the main arteries of Wilshire and Olympic boulevards and Third Street, take a little bloom off the rose.

From Los Angeles Times

Learn about the vast stretch of culture contained on one 27.4-mile boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times

Few vehicles brave the abandoned boulevards; those that do move in furtive dashes: They barrel down the road, slow near the still-smoking ruins of a freshly struck building, then race away.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artery
• avenue
• highway
• thoroughfare