what is the diffrence

[spanglepants]

Hi can any one tell me what the diffrence is between a close and a cul-de sac, a road and a street

[Grunty]

Somebody will give a more technical answer, but a cul-de-sac is a road that has only one entrance/exit, a close is usually a cul-de-sac in a residential area, a street is usually a road in a town or city, and a road is, er, a road.

[ludwig]

A road goes from town to another whereas a street stays in one town. Except for Watling street, which is a roman road. Hope that clarifies things.

[zmudge]

In the law of England and Wales there is no definition of "road" or "street" or "close" or "cul-de-sac" etc. The term highway covers everything from a footpath (for foot passage only), to a bridleway and footpath (for foot, bicycle and equestrian use), to a byeway or street open for all traffic (including motorised users), to unclassified county roads, classified roads, carriageways, main roads, trunk roads, "A" or "B" roads, motorways and special roads. The law gives the public a "right of way" by the Crown over a highway in accordance with the status of the route. The appropriate authority can widen the scope of highway to include areas of land adjacent to one or both sides of a road, street, etc. etc.

[rooftrouser]

Certainly, as the name implies the cul-de-sac is a dead end but as for the others my personal experience would seem to suggest that it is now an aesthetic choice by the authority in charge as much as anything. I have lived in several "roads" that did not lead from one town to another, merely connecting with other nearby roads and streets. I also lived in a close which I don't recall as being any different from surrounding roads and streets. Possibly the words may have had a more distinct meaning in the past which has now been lost - Close: an enclosure round a cathedral for example.