Terminal

/ˈtɜrnɪməl/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A place where vehicles or passengers arrive and depart.
We arrived at the airport terminal just in time for our flight.
A device or point of connection for a computer or telecommunications network.
She accessed the database through a terminal connected to the mainframe.
A station on a railway line or bus route.
The bus terminal was crowded with commuters during rush hour.
adjective
Forming or relating to an end or extremity.
He was diagnosed with a terminal illness, which left him with little time.
Relating to a terminal that provides information and services.
The terminal display showed the latest flight information.

Etymology

From Latin 'terminalis', meaning 'of a boundary or limit'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

terminal illness
A disease that is incurable and expected to lead to death.
terminal velocity
The highest velocity attainable by an object as it falls through a fluid.
terminal station
The last station on a railway line.
terminal block
An electrical connector where wires can be connected.

Related Words

terminate
To bring to an end.
termination
The act of ending something.
terminus
A final point in a journey or process.
terminology
The set of technical or specialized words used in a particular field.

Slang Meanings

To die, often used in a humorous context.
That budget review was so bad, I thought I was terminal.
Referencing a point of no return in a situation.
Once I opened that door, I felt like I was at a terminal point.