road

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
road/rəʊd/

▶noun

• 1 a wide way between places, especially one surfaced for use by vehicles.

• 2 a way to achieving a particular outcome.

• 3 a partly sheltered stretch of water near the shore in which ships can ride at anchor: Boston Roads.

• 4 N. Amer. a railroad.

  ■ Brit. a railway track, especially as clear (or otherwise) for a train to proceed.

• 5 an underground passage or gallery in a mine.

– phrases
down the road informal in the future.
in (or out of) the (or one's) road informal in (or out of) someone's way.
one for the road informal a final alcoholic drink before leaving.
on the road

• 1 on a long journey or journeys.

  ■ without a permanent home and moving from place to place.

• 2 (of a car) able to be driven.

– derivatives
roadless adjective.

– origin OE rād ‘journey on horseback, foray’, of Gmc origin; rel. to ride.