Which Russian word has the MOST meanings?

The Russian language is very rich in verbs of motion, but, among them, there is a unique phenomenon – the verb ‘идти’, which, in its most direct sense, expresses walking on foot, a unidirectional action. However, this word also has a multitude of other meanings and is used in a great many set expressions far removed from any “movement”.

Below, we’ve compiled the most basic meanings and uses of the verb ‘идти’:

1. To walk – moving on foot: "человек идет" (a person is walking).
2. Different ways of movement: "автобус идет по маршруту" (a bus is going along its route), "корабль идет по воде" (a ship is going on the water), "идти на веслах" (to go by oars – to row a boat).
3. To go, to set off somewhere: "идти на войну" (to go to war), "идти в кино" (to go to the cinema).
4. To embark on something: "идти в науку" (to go into science).
5. To proceed in a directed action: "письма идут на фронт" (letters are going to the front), "в комиссию идут предложения" (proposals are going to the committee).
6. To follow someone or something: "идти за своим наставником" (to follow one's mentor), "идти за мечтой" (to follow a dream).
7. To function, to be in operation: "часы идут" (the clock is going / running), "мотор идет" (the engine is running).
8. To happen, to take place: "переговоры идут" (negotiations are underway), "жизнь идет" (life goes on), "время идет" (time passes).

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   To fall (precipitation): "идет дождь" (rain is falling), "идет снег" (snow is falling), "идет град" (hail is falling).
10. To approach, to draw near: "идет зима" (winter is coming).
11. To emanate, to spread: "из трубы идет дым" (smoke is coming out of a chimney).
12. To suit, to look good: "тебе идет этот костюм" (that suit looks good on you).
13. To run / lie (of a path): "тропинка идет через лес" (the path goes through the forest).
14. To make a move in a game: "идти конем" (to move a knight), "идти с козыря" (to lead with a trump card).
15. To be paid, to be credited: "проценты идут на счет" (interest is being credited to the account).

And also many set expressions:

• "Идти в гору" (lit. "to go uphill") – to make a career, to succeed.
• "Идти на поводу" (lit. "to go on a lead") – to blindly follow / be led by the nose.
• "Идти вразрез" (lit. "to go in a cut") – to contradict, to run counter to.
• "Речь идет (о ком/чем)" (lit. "speech goes about someone/something") – means "is about" / "the topic is".