👣 To step on 👟 Grip surface 🦶 A step sound 🐦 To mate (bird) 🚗 To add grip 🏹 To brace a bow

to tread

1 9.9

To press the middle of a bow with your foot to make it tight

verb
/trɛd/

Jargon

: apoyar el pie sobre el arco

To achieve the perfect shot, the expert archer always tread the bow meticulously.

Examples

Before drawing the bowstring, he knew he had to tread the bow with his foot to stabilize it.
The minute you come out and say 'you're wrong,' you are starting to tread on dangerous territory, in my opinion.

Blog text (9)
The archer took careful aim, ensuring to tread the bow properly before releasing the arrow.

Idioms

to tread the boards

1 8.6

To act on a stage in front of an audience

Phrasal Verbs

to tread lightly

9 5.6

To act carefully to avoid hurting feelings or making mistakes

to tread on

7 3.3

To put your foot on something, often by accident

to tread carefully

6 3.9

Act carefully to avoid mistakes, danger, or upsetting others

to tread down

5.3

Make something flat by walking on it again and again

Compounds

caterpillar tread

Specialized

6.0

A continuous metal belt that helps vehicles like tanks and bulldozers move over rough ground

tread-softly

Specialized

9.9

A tropical plant with stinging hairs that make the skin hurt

tread-wheel

Archaic

9.9

A large wheel turned by people or animals walking inside it to power a mill

How Firm

to stamp

24 1.4

to tread

Jargon

1 9.9

press

11 1.3

Surface Forms

tread infinitive

treading present participle

treads third person singular

trod past

trod past participle

Etymology

Tread here comes from the old meaning 'to press down with the foot', which is exactly what archers did when they braced a bow by stepping on its centre. That's why one meaning of tread is to press the bow with the foot.