sidewalk
/'saidwɔ:k/
Definition
- Noun:
- A paved path for pedestrians: A "sidewalk" is a specifically constructed, paved surface intended for people to walk on, typically found alongside a street or roadway, separating pedestrians from vehicular traffic.
Usage
- The primary function of a "sidewalk" is to provide a safe, designated area for foot traffic.
- It is a standard feature of urban and suburban infrastructure.
- Example:
- Example:
Advanced Usage
- "to hit the sidewalk": (informal) to go out walking, often to look for something or someone.
- I'm going to hit the sidewalk and see if any shops are open.
- Used in legal and municipal contexts regarding public right-of-way and maintenance responsibilities.
- Property owners are responsible for clearing snow from the sidewalk.
Variants and Related Words
- Pavement (n): (Chiefly British) The hard surface of a road or sidewalk; synonymous with "sidewalk" in UK English.
- Mind the gap between the train and the pavement.
- Footpath (n): A path for pedestrians, which can be paved or unpaved, and is not necessarily adjacent to a street.
- Curb (n): The raised edge of a sidewalk where it meets the street.
Synonyms
- Footway: (formal) A path or way for pedestrians.
- Walkway: A general term for any path designed for walking.
Related Phrases
- Sidewalk cafe: A restaurant with tables and chairs set up on the public sidewalk.
- We had coffee at a charming sidewalk cafe.
- Sidewalk chalk: Colored chalk used for drawing on pavement.
- The children decorated the driveway with sidewalk chalk.
- Sidewalk sale: A sale where merchandise is displayed on tables on the sidewalk in front of a store.
- The bookstore is having a sidewalk sale this weekend.
Idioms
- "The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence/sidewalk": A proverb meaning other people's situations always seem better than one's own.
- He thinks my job is easier, but the grass is always greener on the other side.
Noun
-
walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
