traverse

Everyday

1. (formal) To traverse a place is to travel across or through it. tree →
2. (formal) To traverse can mean to go back and forth across something. tree →
3. In climbing, a traverse is a route that goes sideways across a slope or cliff. tree →

In the lessons

In geography texts, adventure stories and formal writing: "The explorers traversed the desert". In maths, going along every edge of a shape or network is traversing it. Everyday speech says "cross". Phrases: traverse a mountain, a traverse route.

Examples

• The explorers traversed the icy plains. tree →
• It took three days to traverse the forest. tree →
• A bridge traverses the river. tree →
• Can you traverse this shape without lifting your pencil? tree →
• The climber made a slow traverse across the cliff. tree →
• The searchlight traversed the dark sky. tree →
• Ants traverse the garden path all day. tree →
• They traversed 15 km each day for 4 days, so 60 km in total. tree →
• One shooting star after another traversed the sky. tree →

Note

Formal; everyday: cross, go across. Pronounced TRAV-erse (also tra-VERSE as a verb). Regular: traversed.

In Jewish tradition

In the Psalm it means to walk through Jerusalem's palaces and look carefully. In Jeremiah it describes a restless young camel running about.

Interpretation. The psalm is read as an invitation to admire Zion and tell the next generation. Jeremiah's camel is read as Israel running after idols.

Examples

• Mark ye well her ramparts, traverse her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. (Writings PSA.48.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• See thy way in the Valley, know what thou hast done; thou art a swift young camel traversing her ways; (Prophets JER.2.23, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Formal; everyday: cross, go across. Pronounced TRAV-erse (also tra-VERSE as a verb). Regular: traversed.