traverse

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to cover or extend over an area or time period

   Rivers traverse the valley floor, The parking lot spans 3 acres

2. 2
   noun

   A series of points, with angles and distances measured between, traveled around a subject, usually for use as "control" i.e. angular reference system for later surveying work.

   At the entrance of the king, the first traverse was drawn, and the lower descent of the mountain discovered, which was the pendant of a hill to life, with divers boscages and grovets upon the steep or hanging grounds thereof.

3. 3
   noun

   A screen or partition.

   Than sholde ye see there pressynge in a pace / Of one and other that wolde this lady see, / Whiche sat behynde a traves of sylke fyne, / Of golde of tessew the fynest that myghte be […]

4. 4
   noun

   Something that thwarts or obstructs.

   He will succeed, as long as there are no unlucky traverses not under his control.

5. 5
   noun

   In trench warfare, a defensive trench built to prevent enfilade.

   At night, when the Federal guns slowed their fire, the men created new traverses and bombproofs.

6. 6
   noun

   A traverse board.

   The whole care of the vessel rested, therefore, upon me, and I was obliged to direct her by my former experience, not being able to work a traverse.

7. 7
   verb

   To travel across, to go through, to pass through, particularly under difficult conditions.

   He will have to traverse the mountain to get to the other side.

8. 8
   verb

   To visit all parts of; to explore thoroughly.

   to traverse all nodes in a network

Etymology

From Middle English traversen, from Old French traverser, from Latin trans (“across”) + versus (“turned”), perfect passive participle of Latin vertere (“to turn”).