also: たいろ
noun
main street; main thoroughfare
Refers to a major road, especially in a capital or large city. Often contrasted with 小路 (こうじ, 'lane' or 'alley').
See also: 小路 (こうじ)
京都の大路を歩くと、歴史を感じる。
Walking along the main streets of Kyoto, you feel the history.
One street off the main thoroughfare, a quiet lane continues.
noun
most important of the three classes of highway (ritsuryō period)
Only with reading たいろ
Archaic term from the ritsuryō period, referring to the highest class of official highway. Read as たいろ in this historical context.
律令時代の大路は、都と地方を結ぶ重要な幹線道路だった。
The 大路 (たいろ) of the ritsuryō period were important arterial roads connecting the capital with the provinces.
Standard kanji spelling for the common reading おおじ.
Archaic reading used only for the historical highway classification sense.
Compound of 大 (おお, 'big') + 路 (じ, 'road'). The reading たいろ is the on'yomi version used in historical administrative contexts.