pace

¹

[ peys ]

noun

1. a rate of movement, especially in stepping, walking, etc.:

   To raise your heart rate, walk at a brisk pace of five miles an hour.

2. a rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.; tempo:

   The pace of the building's construction had slowed almost to a halt.

3. any of various standard linear measures, representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking: roughly 30 to 40 inches (75 centimeters to 1 meter). Compare geometrical pace ( def ), military pace ( def ), Roman pace ( def ).
4. a single step:

   She took three paces in the direction of the door.

5. the distance covered in a step:

   Stand six paces inside the gates.

6. a manner of stepping; gait.
7. a gait of a horse or other animal in which the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together.
8. any of the gaits of a horse.

   Synonyms: single foot, run, walk, gallop, canter, jog, trot, rack, amble, step

9. a raised step or platform.

verb (used with object)

, paced, pac·ing.

1. to set the rate of movement for, as in racing.
2. to traverse or go over with steps:

   He paced the floor nervously.

3. to measure by steps or by any of various standard linear measures representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking.
4. to train to a certain pace; exercise in pacing:

   to pace a horse.

5. (of a horse) to run (a distance) at a pace:

   Hanover II paced a mile.

verb (used without object)

, paced, pac·ing.

1. to take slow, regular steps.

   Antonyms: skip, scamper, scurry

2. to walk up and down nervously, as to expend nervous energy.
3. (of a horse) to go at a pace.

pace

²

[ pey-see, pah-chey; Latin pah-ke ]

preposition

1. with all due respect to; with the permission of:

   I do not, pace my rival, hold with the ideas of the reactionists.

PACE

¹

/ peɪs /

acronym for

1. Police and Criminal Evidence Act

pace

²

/ peɪs /

noun

1. 1. a single step in walking
   2. the distance covered by a step
2. a measure of length equal to the average length of a stride, approximately 3 feet See also Roman pace geometric pace military pace
3. speed of movement, esp of walking or running
4. rate or style of proceeding at some activity

   to live at a fast pace

5. manner or action of stepping, walking, etc; gait
6. any of the manners in which a horse or other quadruped walks or runs, the three principal paces being the walk, trot, and canter (or gallop)
7. a manner of moving, natural to the camel and sometimes developed in the horse, in which the two legs on the same side of the body are moved and put down at the same time
8. architect a step or small raised platform
9. keep pace with
   to proceed at the same speed as
10. put someone through his paces
    to test the ability of someone
11. set the pace
    to determine the rate at which a group runs or walks or proceeds at some other activity
12. stand the pace or stay the pace
    to keep up with the speed or rate of others

verb

1. tr to set or determine the pace for, as in a race
2. often foll byabout, up and down, etc to walk with regular slow or fast paces, as in boredom, agitation, etc

   to pace the room

3. troften foll byout to measure by paces

   to pace out the distance

4. intr to walk with slow regular strides

   to pace along the street

5. intr (of a horse) to move at the pace (the specially developed gait)

pace

³

/ ˈpɑːkɛ; ˈpeɪsɪ; ˈpɑːtʃɛ /

preposition

1. with due deference to: used to acknowledge politely someone who disagrees with the speaker or writer

Word History and Origins

Origin of pace¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pas, from Old French, from Latin passus “step, pace,” equivalent to pad-, variant stem of pandere “to spread (the legs, in walking)” + -tus suffix of verbal action, with dt becoming ss

Origin of pace²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin pāce “in peace, by favor” (ablative singular of pāx “favor, pardon, grace, peace ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pace¹

C13: via Old French from Latin passūs step, from pandere to spread, unfold, extend (the legs as in walking)

Origin of pace²

C19: from Latin, from pāx peace

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. put through one's paces, to cause someone to demonstrate their ability or to show their skill:

   The French teacher put her students through their paces for the visitors.

2. set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal or rival; be the most progressive or successful:

   an agency that sets the pace in advertising.

More idioms and phrases containing pace

see change of pace ; keep pace ; put someone through his or her paces ; set the pace ; snail's pace .

Synonym Study

Pace, plod, trudge refer to a steady and monotonous kind of walking. Pace suggests steady, measured steps as of one completely lost in thought or impelled by some distraction: to pace up and down. Plod implies a slow, heavy, laborious, weary walk: The mailman plods his weary way. Trudge implies a spiritless but usually steady and doggedly persistent walk: The farmer trudged to his village to buy his supplies.

Example Sentences

In fact, “Wicked” operates with its audience constantly in mind, keeping an amiable pace that manages not to be bogged down by too many songs or unnecessary reprises.

From Salon

Your money is being stretched as the pace of price rises has risen.

From BBC

Working with a face mask is difficult and slows down his regular pace, Florentino said.

From Los Angeles Times

It prompted criticism from a House of Lords committee, which said the change was being introduced "at a pace that does not permit appropriate scrutiny".

From BBC

You will feel breathless within minutes if you try to run or even walk at a brisk pace in the smog.

From BBC

Related Words

• clip
• momentum
• progress
• rate
• time
• velocity