What is the difference between "street", "road", "avenue", "Boulevard", "lane", etc?

Question

What is the difference between "street", "road", "avenue", "Boulevard", "lane", etc? Or do we now use them randomly to sound "pretty"?

Answer 1

ROAD is a general term for any highway (before cars, 'roads' were walked or ridden on)

STREET is an urban road with buildings either side

AVENUE is a road lined with trees

LANE is a narrower country road or a minor access way which may be unpaved and have a gravel surface

CRESCENT is a road which begins and ends at junctions with the same road (causing it to have a 'crescent' shape)

CLOSE is a cul-de-sac or 'dead end'

BOULEVARD is a French term for a major urban dual carriageway avenue or street

These are the literal meanings in their original terminology but you'll see exceptions to these rules all the time!

Answer 2

ROAD is a general term for any highway (before cars, 'roads' were walked or ridden on)

STREET is an urban road with buildings either side

AVENUE is a road lined with trees

LANE is a narrower country road or a minor access way which may be unpaved and have a gravel surface

CRESCENT is a road which begins and ends at junctions with the same road (causing it to have a 'crescent' shape)

CLOSE is a cul-de-sac or 'dead end'

BOULEVARD is a French term for a major urban dual carriageway avenue or street

These are the literal meanings in their original terminology but you'll see exceptions to these rules all the time!