avenue
avenue — noun
1. a broad urban street, often with rows of trees, tall buildings, or shops on both
a broad urban street, often with rows of trees, tall buildings, or shops on both sides, and very frequently used as part of an official street name.
Jin rented a small apartment on Fifth Avenue, just above a busy flower shop.
on + Avenue (proper-noun street name)
Tall oak trees lined the avenue, throwing long shadows across the pavement.
trees lined the avenue (typical scene)
The parade marched slowly down Park Avenue while crowds cheered from the sidewalks.
Hana walks his dog along Sunset Avenue, past the bakery and the small bookshop on the corner.
Paulo and Sofia's new gallery sits at the corner of Madison Avenue, beside several busy cafés.
- boulevard
wider, often with a central tree-lined strip; more grand than a typical avenue
- street
general term; lacks the suggestion of trees or grandness
- thoroughfare
formal; emphasises that traffic passes through
文法句型
Avenue + proper noun (street name)
on/along + Avenue
用法筆記
Often capitalised and abbreviated to 'Ave.' when used as part of a proper street name (e.g. 'Park Ave.'). Distinguish from sense 2, which refers specifically to a private drive leading up to a large house.
常見錯誤
2. a private road, usually straight and bordered by trees, that runs from a gate up
a private road, usually straight and bordered by trees, that runs from a gate up to a large country house or grand building.
An avenue of beech trees led from the iron gates to the front door of the manor.
avenue of [tree type] led to [house]
The Carter family rode their horses up the long avenue toward the old country house.
up the avenue (toward grand building)
Snow covered the gravel avenue that swept up to the front steps of Ashford Hall.
Eitan walked down the long avenue toward the manor house, admiring the white roses planted along each side.
文法句型
avenue + leading to + house/building
用法筆記
Mostly British and chiefly literary. Frequently appears in the phrase 'avenue of [tree type]'. Distinguish from sense 1: this avenue is private and ends at a single grand house, not a public street with shops or apartments.
常見錯誤
3. one of several possible methods or directions for reaching a goal or solving a p
one of several possible methods or directions for reaching a goal or solving a problem — for example, a legal strategy, a funding source, or a diplomatic channel that someone might try.
Before the trial, the lawyers explored every legal avenue to free their client.
explore + avenue (typical verb)
Greenfield University's online courses have opened up new avenues for working parents like Aisha to finish their degrees.
open up new avenues for + named group
The mayor promised to pursue every avenue of funding to repair the broken bridge.
After the Geneva talks collapsed, Ambassador Reyes warned that few diplomatic avenues remained for ending the border dispute.
The grant program offers young researchers a valuable avenue for funding their first independent projects.
- dead end
informal; a route that leads nowhere
文法句型
avenue of + noun
avenue for + noun/-ing
explore/pursue/open up + avenue
用法筆記
Strongly collocates with verbs of searching: 'explore', 'pursue', 'investigate', 'open up', 'close off'. Subject is typically an institution, professional, or person seeking a solution. Distinguish from sense 1 and 2: this is figurative — no real road is involved.