pace

¹

[peys]

noun

1. a rate of movement, especially in stepping, walking, etc..

   To raise your heart rate, walk at a brisk pace of five miles an hour.

2. a rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.; tempo.

   The pace of the building's construction had slowed almost to a halt.

3. any of various standard linear measures, representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking: roughly 30 to 40 inches (75 centimeters to 1 meter).

4. a single step.

   She took three paces in the direction of the door.

5. the distance covered in a step.

   Stand six paces inside the gates.

6. a manner of stepping; gait.

7. a gait of a horse or other animal in which the feet on the same side are lifted and put down together.

8. any of the gaits of a horse.

   Synonyms: single foot, run, walk, gallop, canter, jog, trot, rack, amble, step

9. a raised step or platform.

verb (used with object)

paced, pacing 

1. to set the rate of movement for, as in racing.

2. to traverse or go over with steps.

   He paced the floor nervously.

3. to measure by steps or by any of various standard linear measures representing the space naturally measured by the movement of the feet in walking.

4. to train to a certain pace; exercise in pacing.

   to pace a horse.

5. (of a horse) to run (a distance) at a pace.

   Hanover II paced a mile.

verb (used without object)

paced, pacing 

1. to take slow, regular steps.

   Antonyms: skip, scamper, scurry

2. to walk up and down nervously, as to expend nervous energy.

3. (of a horse) to go at a pace.

pace

²

[pey-see, pah-chey, pah-ke]

preposition

1. with all due respect to; with the permission of.

   I do not, pace my rival, hold with the ideas of the reactionists.

pace

¹

/ peɪs /

noun

1. 1. a single step in walking

   2. the distance covered by a step

2. a measure of length equal to the average length of a stride, approximately 3 feet See also Roman pace geometric pace military pace

3. speed of movement, esp of walking or running

4. rate or style of proceeding at some activity

   to live at a fast pace

5. manner or action of stepping, walking, etc; gait

6. any of the manners in which a horse or other quadruped walks or runs, the three principal paces being the walk, trot, and canter (or gallop)

7. a manner of moving, natural to the camel and sometimes developed in the horse, in which the two legs on the same side of the body are moved and put down at the same time

8. architect a step or small raised platform

9. to proceed at the same speed as

10. to test the ability of someone

11. to determine the rate at which a group runs or walks or proceeds at some other activity

12. to keep up with the speed or rate of others

verb

1. (tr) to set or determine the pace for, as in a race

2. to walk with regular slow or fast paces, as in boredom, agitation, etc

   to pace the room

3. to measure by paces

   to pace out the distance

4. (intr) to walk with slow regular strides

   to pace along the street

5. (intr) (of a horse) to move at the pace (the specially developed gait)

PACE

²

/ peɪs /

acronym

1. Police and Criminal Evidence Act

pace

³

/ ˈpɑːkɛ, ˈpeɪsɪ, ˈpɑːtʃɛ /

preposition

1. with due deference to: used to acknowledge politely someone who disagrees with the speaker or writer

Word History and Origins

Origin of pace¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English pas, from Old French, from Latin passus “step, pace,” equivalent to pad-, variant stem of pandere “to spread (the legs, in walking)” + -tus suffix of verbal action, with dt becoming ss

Origin of pace²

First recorded in 1860–65; from Latin pāce “in peace, by favor” (ablative singular of pāx “favor, pardon, grace, peace ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pace¹

C13: via Old French from Latin passūs step, from pandere to spread, unfold, extend (the legs as in walking)

Origin of pace²

C19: from Latin, from pāx peace

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. set the pace, to act as an example for others to equal or rival; be the most progressive or successful.

   an agency that sets the pace in advertising.

2. put through one's paces, to cause someone to demonstrate their ability or to show their skill.

   The French teacher put her students through their paces for the visitors.

see change of pace; keep pace; put someone through his or her paces; set the pace; snail's pace.

Synonym Study

Pace, plod, trudge refer to a steady and monotonous kind of walking. Pace suggests steady, measured steps as of one completely lost in thought or impelled by some distraction: to pace up and down. Plod implies a slow, heavy, laborious, weary walk: The mailman plods his weary way. Trudge implies a spiritless but usually steady and doggedly persistent walk: The farmer trudged to his village to buy his supplies.

Example Sentences

They realised Carpenter had the better of City captain Alex Greenwood with her pace and was causing the visiting defence problems.

From BBC

Our investigation is continuing at pace and remains a priority.

From BBC

Halse will hope to haunt Mitchell with Cullen-like ghosting pace and lines from deep on Saturday when Australia take on England.

From BBC

England's players must learn how to pace it and how to restructure an innings when they lose quick wickets.

From BBC

Buttler reached 50 from 43 deliveries and was just about keeping pace with a required rate of nine an over when he was bowled by an outstanding Lungi Ngidi slower ball.

From BBC

Related Words

• clip 
• momentum 
• progress 
• rate 
• time 
• velocity