pace Hear it!

pace¹ Definition

pace (pās)

noun

  1. a step in walking, running, etc.; stride
  2. a unit of linear measure, equal to the length of a step or stride, variously estimated at from 30 inches to 40 inches: the regulation military pace is 30 inches, or 36 inches for double time: the Roman pace, measured from the heel of one foot to the heel of the same foot in the next stride, was 5 Roman ft, or 58.1 inches, now known as a geometric pace, about 5 ft
    1. the rate of speed in walking, running, etc.
    2. Sports the speed of a ball, shuttlecock, etc.
  4. rate of movement, progress, development, etc.
  5. a particular way of walking, running, etc. (of a person or animal); gait; walk
  6. the gait of a horse in which both legs on the same side are raised together

Etymology: ME pas < OFr < L passus, a step, lit., a stretching out of the leg < pp. of pandere, to stretch out < IE base *pet-, to stretch out > fathom

transitive verb paced, pac′·ing

  1. to walk or stride back and forth across
  2. to measure by paces: often with off
  3. to train, develop, or guide the pace of (a horse)
    1. to set the pace for (a runner, horse, etc.)
    2. to regulate the rate of progress, development, etc. of
  5. to go before and lead
  6. to cover (a certain distance)

intransitive verb

  1. to walk with slow or regular steps
  2. to raise both legs on the same side at the same time in moving: said of a horse

pace¹ Idioms

change of pace

  1. variation in tempo or mood, in the presentation of acts in a variety show, etc.
  2. Baseball change-up

go through one's paces

to show one's abilities, skills, etc.

keep pace (with)

  1. to go at the same speed (as)
  2. to maintain the same rate of progress, etc. (as)

off the pace

behind the leader; out of first place

put through one's paces

to test one's ability, skills, etc.

set the pace

  1. to go at a speed that others try to equal, as in a race
  2. to do or be something for others to emulate

pace² Definition

pace (pā′sē, pä′c̸hā)

with all due respect to: used in expressing polite disagreement

Etymology: L, abl. of pax, peace

pace Synonyms

pace

n.

step, velocity, movement; see speed.

change of pace

variation, alteration, diversity; see change 2.

go through one's paces

show one's abilities, perform, exhibit; see display 1.

keep pace (with)

go at the same speed, maintain the same rate of progress, keep up with; see equal.

off the pace

out of first place, behind the leader, trailing after; see behind 3.

put through one's paces

challenge, put to the test, run through a routine; see test 1.

set the pace

begin, initiate, establish criteria; see lead 1.

pace Synonyms

pace

v.

  1. To stride

    walk, tread, traverse, travel, walk the floor, pace back and forth; see also walk 1.

  2. To measure by pacing

    determine, pace off, step off; see measure 1.

pace Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • gather: Algeria: West put to the test For years western governments have known about the gruesome events gathering pace in Algeria.
  • blister: Barnes waited a further five laps before stopping, and set a blistering pace on the track while his chief rivals were stationary.
  • keep: Thus, like in the first two quarters of 2004, Latvia kept the highest pace of GDP growth among the EU states.
  • accelerate: There is no doubt that these developments are accelerating the pace of integration.
  • quicken: He'd taken pleasure in the man's quickening pace, the brief glance round.
  • dictate: You should be very controlled and not allow the momentum to dictate the pace.

Adjective modifier

  • leisurely: With the rain easing, the 22 cars set off at a leisurely pace behind the safety car for three laps.
  • slow: She simply walked along with me at my slower pace.
  • brisk: The only alternative was to use " Shank's Pony " so we set off at quite a brisk pace.
  • steady: Your training starts with rides that last for up to 2 hours at a nice steady pace.
  • rapid: I seem totally incapable of making my brain function at a rapid pace.
  • frenetic: The girls from the UK work hard at a frenetic pace to prepare the presenters for the program exercise.

Modifies a noun

  • setter: Shanghai is both trendsetter and pace setter for China as a whole and this change is noticeable in all major towns and cities.
  • bowler: Batting all-rounder Steven Mullaney is joining us from Leigh, with pace bowler Andrew Miller moving from Preston.

Noun used with modifier

  • 10-k: The 200 should be run almost all-out, the 600 slightly slower, and the 1600 at about 10-K pace.
  • 5k: Since his 5k pace is 75 seconds per 400m, his interval pace will be 71 seconds per 400m.
  • snail: In a sulk, he drives his train back to London at a snails pace.
  • lightning: It only takes a small minority of unsecured systems for viruses and SPAM to propagate at a lightning pace.

Possessives

snail: Have you been trying to lose weight but find it comes off at a snail's pace?

Preposition: of

Prem: Yes, they MAY adapt to the pace of the Prem.

Browse dictionary entries near pace

  1. ‹ paca
  2. ‹ pac
  3. ‹ PABX
  4. ‹ pabulum
  5. ‹ Pablum
  6. ‹ PABA
  7. ‹ pa'anga
  8. ‹ pa
  9. ‹ P1024B
  10. ‹ P wave
  1. pace car ›
  2. paced ›
  3. pacemaker ›
  4. pacer ›
  5. pacesetter ›
  6. pacey ›
  7. pacha ›
  8. pachalic ›
  9. Pachelbel ›
  10. pachinko ›