The Many Aspects of Streets The definition of "street" is considered to be a public road in a city or town. If one chooses to look at the word "street" more deeply, one would discover that it is much more than that. A street is constructed of many different materials, has many uses and purposes, and contains complex symbolism. We use streets in our society all the time yet rarely take the time to appreciate the many aspects that make them functioning streets. Streets are often constructed from various materials, have varying dimensions, and may be busy or lack activity. In earlier times, streets were hand-made from rocks or stones. In an old c