lane

¹

[ leyn ]

noun

1. a narrow way or passage between hedges, fences, walls, or houses.

   Synonyms: alley

2. any narrow or well-defined passage, track, channel, or course.
3. a longitudinally marked part of a highway wide enough to accommodate one vehicle, often set off from adjacent lanes by painted lines (often used in combination):

   a new six-lane turnpike.

4. a fixed route followed by ocean steamers or airplanes.
5. (in a running or swimming race) the marked-off space or path within which a competitor must remain during the course of a race.
6. a long, narrow wooden track that a ball rolls down in a game of bowling.
7. an area of interest or expertise that is associated with a person or group whose contributions or authority in that area are respected:

   Teen magazines should stay in their lane and stick to publishing articles about relationships, style, and beauty.

8. Politics. an affiliation or faction that presents one path to nomination or election victory for candidates who espouse that ideology or embody its ideals:

   The libertarian candidates siphoned voters away from the conservative establishment lane in the primary.

9. (in a MOBA video game) one of the major arteries on the map between the two strongholds in which the fighting between characters occurs:

   Our strategy is to push with a support character in the top lane.

lane

²

[ leyn ]

adjective

1. lone.

Lane

³

[ leyn ]

noun

1. a male given name.

lane

¹

/ leɪn /

adjective

1. lone or alone
2. one's lane or on one's lane
   on one's own

lane

²

/ leɪn /

noun

1. 1. a narrow road or way between buildings, hedges, fences, etc
   2. ( capital as part of a street name )

      Drury Lane

2. 1. any of the parallel strips into which the carriageway of a major road or motorway is divided
   2. any narrow well-defined route or course for ships or aircraft
3. one of the parallel strips into which a running track or swimming bath is divided for races
4. the long strip of wooden flooring down which balls are bowled in a bowling alley

Word History and Origins

Origin of lane¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English; cognate with Dutch laan “avenue,” Old Norse lǫn “oblong hayrick, row of houses”

Word History and Origins

Origin of lane¹

Old English lane, lanu, of Germanic origin; related to Middle Dutch lāne lane

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by one's lane. lonesome ( def 4 ).

More idioms and phrases containing lane

see fast lane ; lovers' lane .

Synonym Study

See path.

Example Sentences

The storm of two season-ending injuries in three years has cleared to reveal wide-open running lanes for Dobbins.

From Los Angeles Times

The city is long overdue for a comprehensive plan that outlines infrastructure needs and costs, including for regular maintenance and improvements to public works, such as bus shelters, landscaped medians and protected bike lanes.

From Los Angeles Times

All southbound lanes will be closed Friday and Sunday night, and some lanes will be closed for the rest of the weekend until Monday at 5 a.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Veering off down memory lane, the actor regaled the crowd with an anecdote about "Rocky," using it as a segue to equate Trump with an even bigger historical figure, the son of God.

From Salon

With each rushing lane that Herbert finds, offensive coordinator Greg Roman just sees his playbook open more and more.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• expressway
• highway
• pathway
• roadway
• route
• street
• thoroughfare