tread

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An action or movement made with your feet.

When you walk, jog, or run, you make tread. It's the way your feet hit the ground and move forward. Imagine walking on a treadmill - the machine tracks your tread. You might also think of the tread on a tire, which is the rubber part that touches the road.

How common is "tread"?

Word tread is considered uncommon in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

verb

(intransitive) To step or walk (on or across something); to trample.
Example: He trod back and forth wearily.
(transitive) To step or walk upon.
Example: Actors tread the boards.
(figuratively, with certain adverbs of manner) To proceed, to behave (in a certain manner).
Example: to tread lightly, to tread gently
To beat or press with the feet.
Example: to tread a path; to tread land when too light; a well-trodden path
To work a lever, treadle, etc., with the foot or the feet.
To go through or accomplish by walking, dancing, etc.
To crush under the foot; to trample in contempt or hatred; to subdue; to repress.
(intransitive) To copulate; said of (especially male) birds.
(transitive, of a male bird) To copulate with (a hen).
(transitive) To crush grapes with one's feet to make wine