Definition

Noun: 1. A public road in a city or town, typically with buildings on one or both sides: This is the most common meaning, referring to the physical paved or public thoroughfare for vehicles and pedestrians. 2. The people who live, work, or are found on such a road; the general public environment: This meaning refers to the social and public life associated with such a place. 3. (Finance, often capitalized: "the Street") The financial community, specifically the New York financial markets and institutions: This is a specialized, metaphorical use referring to the center of financial activity, most notably Wall Street.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Physical Road):
  • The children were playing in the street.
  • Our house is on a quiet street.
• Noun (Public Environment):
  • You hear all kinds of rumors on the street.
  • He learned his trade on the streets of the city.
• Noun (Financial Community):
  • The company's earnings report surprised the Street.
  • Analysts on the Street are predicting a merger.

Advanced Usage

• "The word on the street": A common rumor or piece of information circulating among people.
  • The word on the street is that the store is closing down.
• "To be streets ahead": To be much more advanced or better than someone or something else.
  • Their new technology is streets ahead of the competition.

Variants and Related Words

• Streetwise (adj): Having the knowledge and experience needed to deal with the potential difficulties or dangers of life in a city.
  • You need to be streetwise to live in this neighborhood.
• Streetcar (n): A vehicle running on rails along public streets, typically powered by electricity; a tram.
• Streetlight (n): A light mounted on a pole to illuminate a street.

Synonyms

• Road: A wide way leading from one place to another, especially one with a prepared surface for vehicles.
• Avenue: A broad road in a town or city, often with trees or buildings along its sides.
• Thoroughfare: A main road or public route.

Related Phrases

• Man/woman/person on the street: An ordinary, average person, not an expert.
  • We asked the man on the street for his opinion.
• Right up someone's street (UK) / Right up someone's alley (US): Very suited to someone's interests or abilities.
  • A puzzle like this is right up my street.

Related Idioms

• To be on easy street: To be in a comfortable financial situation.
  • After the investment paid off, they were on easy street.
• The streets are paved with gold: Used to suggest that a place offers great opportunities for becoming rich (often used ironically).
  • He moved to the city believing the streets were paved with gold.

Noun

1. used to allude to the securities industry of the United States