What does "retread" mean?
A used tire whose surface, the tread, has been replaced to extend its life and use.
Retread
/ɹiːˈtɹɛd/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A used tire whose surface, the tread, has been replaced to extend its life and use.
- Grammar: retread is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: balloon tire, belted bias tire, belted radial tire, bias tire.
- Useful contrasts: innovate, new tire, novel work.
- Usage evidence: There was no evidence to suggest that the fact that both tyres had been retreaded 3 times was a factor in the failure occurrence. This type of aircraft tyre (Type VII) is routinely retreaded 6 times or more before being taken out of service.
How to use "retread"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "retread" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "retread" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "retread" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "retread" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "retread" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "balloon tire" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "retread", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A used tire whose surface, the tread, has been replaced to extend its life and use.
- 2 A return over ground previously covered; a retraversal or repetition. figuratively, sometimes
"But The West Side Waltz is otherwise a tedious retread of Mr. Thompson's previous effort, On Golden Pond."
- 3 a used automobile tire that has been remolded to give it new treads wordnet
- 4 A person who re-entered military service in World War II after serving in World War I. slang
"In Our War the Retreads usually slinked in over-aged, over-weight and overcautious in the face of a new generation."
Verb
- 1 To replace the traction-providing surface of a vehicle that employs tires, tracks or treads.
- 2 To tread again, to walk along again, to follow a path again. transitive
"As a child I had not been content with the results promised by the modern professors of natural science. With a confusion of ideas only to be accounted for by my extreme youth and my want of a guide on such matters, I had retrod the steps of knowledge along the paths of time and exchanged the discoveries of recent inquirers for the dreams of forgotten alchemists. Besides, I had a contempt for the uses of modern natural philosophy."
- 3 give new treads to (a tire) wordnet
- 4 To renew the tread of a tyre, providing a cheaper alternative to buying a new tyre, but potentially introducing a risk of premature failure if performed improperly. UK
"There was no evidence to suggest that the fact that both tyres had been retreaded 3 times was a factor in the failure occurrence. This type of aircraft tyre (Type VII) is routinely retreaded 6 times or more before being taken out of service."
- 5 use again in altered form wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"There was no evidence to suggest that the fact that both tyres had been retreaded 3 times was a factor in the failure occurrence. This type of aircraft tyre (Type VII) is routinely retreaded 6 times or more before being taken out of service."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "retread"?
Common synonyms include: balloon tire, belted bias tire, belted radial tire, bias tire, canned version, cobble.
How do you use "retread" in a sentence?
There was no evidence to suggest that the fact that both tyres had been retreaded 3 times was a factor in the failure occurrence. This type of aircraft tyre (Type VII) is routinely retreaded 6 times or more before being taken out of service.
How do you pronounce "retread"?
Pronounced /ɹiːˈtɹɛd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From re- + tread (“grooves carved into the face of a tire”, noun).
Etymology 2
From re- + tread (verb).