Street Is a Latin Word Left Behind by Rome
A street is a paved public road. The word came from the Latin for a paved way, and English place names still mark where Roman roads ran.
A street is a public road in a town, usually with buildings along it. The word arrived with the Romans: Latin *via strata* meant a paved way, from *sternere*, to spread or lay down. Germanic peoples borrowed *strata*, and English place names still use it as a marker — Stratford, Streatham, Watling Street all sit on or near Roman roads.
- A town road. *A narrow street.*
- The public sphere. *Word on the street.*
- Streetwise — knowing how to handle city life. *Streetwise and cautious.*
- Right up your street — exactly your kind of thing. *That job is right up your street.*
- Streets ahead — far better. *Streets ahead of the competition.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | street | A quiet street. |
| Plural | streets | The back streets. |
| Adjective | street | Street food. |
| Adjective | streetwise | A streetwise kid. |
| Related | strata | Rock strata. |
- They live three streets away.Ordinary use.
- That book is right up your street.British idiom.
- Street food stalls filled the square.Attributive.
Street, road, avenue, lane
- Street — in a town, usually with buildings on both sides
- Road — connects places; can be rural
- Avenue — traditionally tree-lined, often wide
- Lane — narrow, often rural or a marked traffic division
- Boulevard — a wide city street, from a Dutch word for a rampart
Old English *stræt*, from Latin *strata*, paved, from *sternere*, to lay down. The borrowing happened before English speakers reached Britain, during contact with the Roman world.
Are street and strata related?
Yes. Both come from the Latin verb sternere, to spread or lay down. A street is a laid surface; strata are laid layers.
What is the difference between a street and a road?
A street is usually built up on both sides and urban. A road connects places and can run through open country.