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. the Street, Informal.
   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 drug

   street style

6. man in the street
   an ordinary or average citizen
7. on the streets
   1. earning a living as a prostitute
   2. homeless
8. streets ahead of informal.
   superior to, more advanced than, etc
9. streets apart informal.
   markedly different
10. up one's street or right up one's street informal.
    (just) what one knows or likes best

verb

1. to outdistance

Other Words From

• streetless adjective
• streetlike adjective
• inter·street 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, British. alley ¹( def 7 ).

More idioms and phrases containing street

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

A French trader reportedly won nearly $50 million after predicting Trump would win the popular vote, the Wall Street Journal reported.

From Salon

Trump rattled wide swaths of the U.S. defense establishment this week with a draft executive order, whose existence was reported Tuesday by the Wall Street Journal, to create a special panel — dubbed a “warrior board” — that would have the power to force out high-ranking generals and admirals.

From Los Angeles Times

A jeweller working on London's Bond Street confirmed he bought more than half of them for £10,000 shortly after their disappearance, Sotheby's said.

From BBC

The purchase of the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the second-largest street race in the world behind only the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, also marks Penske’s return to Southern California racing at a time when the sport appears to be in retrenchment.

From Los Angeles Times

On Thursday he expanded his empire by acquiring the Grand Prix of Long Beach, the longest-running major street race in North America and one of the largest and more important events on Southern California’s sporting landscape.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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