Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - path

~ n plural paths 1 »TRACK« a track that people walk along over an area of ground I walked nervously up the path towards the front door. A path had been worn across the grass. 2 »WAY THROUGH STH« a way through something, that is made by opening a space to allow you to move forward The crowd moved aside to make a path for them. + through They used axes to clear a path through the jungle. 3 »DIRECTION« the direction or line along which someone or something moves Sherman's army burned and looted everything that lay in its path the orbital path of the moon around the earth 4 »PLAN« what you intend to do over a long period of time a career path Shamira saw a college degree as her path to independence. 5 sb's paths cross if two people's paths cross, they meet by chance Our paths did not cross again until 1941.  (- see also beat a path (to sb's door) beat1 (23), lead sb up the garden path lead1 (18), stand in sb's way/path stand1 (42))