Steps or walks on something; the pattern of ridges on a tire that help it grip the road.
From Old English 'tredan,' meaning 'to step on.' The word has Germanic roots and has remained relatively unchanged for over 1,000 years.
When we say 'tread carefully,' we're using the original meaning of the word, but 'tire treads' show how old words get new meanings as technology evolves—the tire company adapted the word because the ridged pattern does the same job as footsteps, gripping the surface below.
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