trav·erse / trəˈvərs/ • v. [tr.] 1. travel across or through: he traversed the forest. ∎  extend across or through: a moving catwalk that traversed a vast cavernous space. ∎  [intr.] cross a hill or mountain by means of a series of sideways movements: I often use this route, eventually traversing around the cliff. ∎  ski diagonally across (a slope), with only a slight descent. ∎ fig. consider or discuss the whole extent of (a subject): he would traverse a number of subjects and disciplines.2. [tr.] move (something) back and forth or sideways: a probe is traversed along the tunnel. ∎  turn (a large gun or other device on a pivot) to face a different direction. ∎  [intr.] (of such a gun or device) be turned in this way.3. Law deny (an allegation) in pleading. ∎ archaic oppose or thwart (a plan).• n. 1. an act of traversing something. ∎  a sideways movement, or a series of such movements, across a rock face from one line of ascent or descent to another. ∎  a place where a movement of this type is necessary: a narrow traverse made lethal by snow and ice. ∎  a movement following a diagonal course made by a skier descending a slope. ∎  a zigzag course followed by a ship because winds or currents prevent it from sailing directly toward its destination.2. a part of a structure that extends or is fixed across something. ∎  a gallery extending from side to side of a church or other building.3. a mechanism enabling a large gun to be turned to face a different direction. ∎  the sideways movement of a part in a machine.4. a single line of survey, usually plotted from compass bearings and chained or paced distances between angular points. ∎  a tract surveyed in this way.5. Mil. a pair of right-angled bends incorporated in a trench to avoid enfilading fire.6. variant spelling of travers.• adj. (of a curtain rod) allowing the curtain to be opened and closed by sliding it along the rod.DERIVATIVES: tra·vers·a·ble adj.tra·vers·al / -səl/ n.tra·vers·er n.