Meaning & Definition of word "Railway"

Railway

/ˈreɪl.weɪ/

noun:

  • 1. A railroad or a system of tracks used for trains.
    • Example: The railway connects major cities across the country.
  • 2. A company that operates trains on such tracks.
    • Example: The railway announced new routes for the upcoming travel season.
  • 3. A track or set of tracks made for the running of trains.
    • Example: The engineers inspected the railway for any damages after the storm.
  • 4. A system of transportation that uses trains and tracks.
    • Example: Railway transport is a popular mode of travel in Europe.
  • 5. A place where trains stop for passengers to board or disembark.
    • Example: She arrived at the railway station ahead of her train's departure.

Etymology

The term 'railway' originated in the early 19th century, combining 'rail' from Middle English 'raile', meaning a bar or pole, and 'way', meaning a path or road.

Common Phrases and Expressions

railway station:

A place where trains stop for passengers to get on and off.

railway crossing:

An intersection where a railway line crosses a road.

railway network:

The interconnected system of raillines and stations.

Related Words

train:

A series of connected vehicles traveling on railways.

locomotive:

A railway vehicle that provides the power for a train.

carriage:

A vehicle used to transport passengers on a train.

Slang Meanings of railway

Meaning: Old Iron

Example Sentence: The trains are often referred to as 'Old Iron' in nostalgic terms.

Meaning: The rails

Example Sentence: When he said he was heading to work on 'the rails', he meant he was working on the railway.