# traverse

> English word · Noun · IPA /tɹəˈvɝs/ · frequency rank #17,263

## Definitions
1. A route used in mountaineering, specifically rock climbing, in which the descent occurs by a different route than the ascent.
2. 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.
3. A screen or partition.
4. Something that thwarts or obstructs.
5. A gallery or loft of communication from side to side of a church or other large building.
6. A formal denial of some matter of fact alleged by the opposite party in any stage of the pleadings. The technical words introducing a traverse are absque hoc ("without this", i.e. without what follows).
7. The zigzag course or courses made by a ship in passing from one place to another; a compound course.
8. A line lying across a figure or other lines; a transversal.
9. In trench warfare, a defensive trench built to prevent enfilade.
10. A traverse board.

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

## Easily confused with
- **traversed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/traverse-vs-traversed)
- **travels** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/travels-vs-traverse)
- **Travers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/travers-vs-traverse)
- **transverse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/transverse-vs-traverse)

## Common misspellings (12)
`rtaverse`, `tarverse`, `traevrse`, `traveres`, `traverrse`, `traversse`, `travesre`, `travrese`, `travverse`, `trraverse`, `trvaerse`, `ttraverse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/traverse