pas·sage¹ / ˈpasij/ • n. 1. the act or process of moving through, under, over, or past something on the way from one place to another: there were moorings for boats wanting passage through the lock. ∎  the act or process of moving forward: despite the passage of time she still loved him. ∎  the right to pass through somewhere: we obtained a permit for safe passage from the embassy. ∎  a journey or ticket for a journey by sea or air: he then booked passage home aboard a Spanish warship. ∎  Ornithol. (of a migrating bird) the action of passing through a place en route to its final destination: the species occurs regularly on passage | [as adj.] a passage migrant. ∎  Med. & Biol. the process of propagating microorganisms or cells in a series of host organisms or culture media, so as to maintain them or modify their virulence.2. a narrow way, typically having walls on either side, allowing access between buildings or to different rooms within a building; a passageway. ∎  a duct, vessel, or other channel in the body.3. the process of transition from one state to another: an allegory on the theme of the passage from ignorance to knowledge. ∎  the passing of a bill into law: a catalyst for the unrest was the passage of a privatization law.4. a short extract from a book or other printed material: he picked up the newspaper and read the passage again. ∎  a section of a piece of music: nothing obscures the outlines of an orchestral passage more than a drumroll on an unrelated note. ∎  an episode in a longer activity such as a sporting event: a neat passage of midfield play.• v. [tr.] Med. & Biol. subject (a strain of microorganisms or cells) to a passage: each recombinant virus was passaged nine times successively.PHRASES: passage of (or at) arms a fight or dispute.work one's passage work in return for a free place on a voyage: he worked his passage home as a steward.pas·sage² • n. a movement performed in advanced dressage and classical riding, in which the horse executes a slow elevated trot, giving the impression of dancing.

passage passage grave a prehistoric megalithic burial chamber of a type found chiefly in western Europe, with a passage leading to the exterior. Passage graves were originally covered by a mound, which in many cases has disappeared, and most date from the Neolithic period.
passage hawk a hawk caught for training while on migration, especially as an immature bird of less than twelve months.

See also purple passage.

passage action of passing; way by which one passes XIII; event, act (surviving in p. of arms); part of a discourse or musical composition XVI. — (O)F. passage — Gallo-Rom. *passāticum, f. *passāre PASS2; see -AGE.

Passage

herons in flight (‘on passage’); the migration or migratory flight of birds.

Examples : passage of herons, 1879; of migrating birds, 1774.

passage. Section of a comp. which perhaps has no structural significance, e.g. a pizzicato passage, which may last only 2 bars. ‘Passage-work’ is often applied to brilliant display for the soloist.