passage (passages plural )
1 n-count A passage is a long narrow space with walls or fences on both sides, which connects one place or room with another.
(=passageway, corridor)
Harry stepped into the passage and closed the door behind him.
2 n-count A passage in a book, speech, or piece of music is a section of it that you are considering separately from the rest.
usu with supp
(=excerpt, extract)
He reads a passage from Milton., ...the passage in which Blake spoke of the world of imagination...
3 n-count A passage is a long narrow hole or tube in your body, which air or liquid can pass along.
usu supp N
...blocked nasal passages.
4 n-count A passagethrough a crowd of people or things is an empty space that allows you to move through them.
oft N through n
(=way)
He cleared a passage for himself through the crammed streets...
5 n-uncount The passage of someone or something is their movement from one place to another.
usu with poss
Germany had not requested Franco's consent for the passage of troops through Spain...
6 n-uncount The passage of someone or something is their progress from one situation or one stage in their development to another.
usu N from/to n, oft with poss
(=transition)
...the passage from school to college.
7 n-sing The passage of a period of time is its passing.
the N of n
(=passing)
An asset that increases in value with the passage of time.
8 n-count A passage is a journey by ship.
(=crossing)
We'd arrived the day before after a 10-hour passage from Swansea.
9 n-uncount If you are granted passage through a country or area of land, you are given permission to go through it. oft N prep Mr Thomas would be given safe passage to and from Jaffna...
back passage (back passages plural )People sometimes refer to their rectum as their back passage.
(BRIT)
INFORMAL n-count
bird of passage (birds of passage plural )If you refer to someone as a bird of passage, you mean that they are staying in a place for a short time before going to another place. n-count
Most of these emigrants were birds of passage who returned to Spain after a relatively short stay.
safe passage
If someone is given safe passage, they are allowed to go somewhere safely, without being attacked or arrested. n-uncount also a N, oft N for/to n
They were unwilling, or unable, to guarantee safe passage from the city to the aircraft...