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terminal

adjective ter·mi·nal \ ˈtərm-nəl , ˈtər-mə-nᵊl \
|Updated on: 15 Aug 2018

Definition of terminal

1 a (1) : leading ultimately to death : fatal
  • terminal cancer
(2) : approaching or close to death : being in the final stages of a fatal disease
  • a terminal patient
(3) : of or relating to patients with a terminal illness
  • terminal care
b : of, relating to, or occurring in a term or each term
  • terminal payments
c : extremely or hopelessly severe
  • terminal boredom
2 a : of or relating to an end, extremity, boundary, or terminus
  • a terminal pillar
b : growing at the end of a branch or stem
  • a terminal bud
3 a : occurring at or constituting the end of a period or series : concluding
  • the terminal moments of life
b : not intended as preparation for further academic work
  • a terminal curriculum
—

terminally

adverb

See terminal defined for English-language learners

See terminal defined for kids

Examples of terminal in a Sentence

  1. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

  2. I was suffering from terminal boredom.

  3. another person with terminal stupidity

  4. branches that end in a terminal bud

Recent Examples of terminal from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'terminal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of terminal

Latin terminalis, from terminus

terminal Synonyms

Synonyms

baleful, deadly, deathly, fatal, fell, killer, lethal, mortal, murderous, pestilent, vital;

Antonyms

healthful, healthy, nonfatal, nonlethal, wholesome;

Near Antonyms

beneficial, restorative, salubrious, salutary;

alleviative, corrective, curative, remedial, tonic;

advantageous, beneficial, useful;

nonpoisonous, nontoxic, safe;

Related Words

baneful, deleterious, destructive, harmful, injurious, noxious, pernicious, truculent;

infectious, infective, pestilential, poisonous, sublethal, toxic, virulent;

dangerous, grave, grievous, hazardous, jeopardizing, menacing, parlous, perilous, risky, serious, threatening, ugly, unhealthy, unsound;

bloody, internecine, sanguinary, sanguine;

Synonym Discussion of terminal

last, final, terminal, ultimate mean following all others (as in time, order, or importance). last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.
    • last page of a book
    • last news we had of him
final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.
    • final day of school
terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.
    • terminal phase of a disease
ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.
    • the ultimate collapse of the system
2

terminal

noun

Definition of terminal

1 a : either end of a carrier line having facilities for the handling of freight and passengers
b : a freight or passenger station that is central to a considerable area or serves as a junction at any point with other lines
c : a town or city at the end of a carrier line : terminus
2 : a combination of a keyboard and output device (such as a video display unit) by which data can be entered into or output from a computer or electronic communications system
3 : a device attached to the end of a wire or cable or to an electrical apparatus for convenience in making connections
4 : a part that forms the end : extremity, termination
5 : a terminating usually ornamental detail : finial

See terminal defined for English-language learners

Examples of terminal in a Sentence

  1. I will meet you outside the bus terminal.

  2. Flight 1584 is now departing from Gate 6 in Terminal A.

  3. You are not allowed in the terminal without a ticket.

  4. Ten terminals are connected to this server.

  5. You will need to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals.

Recent Examples of terminal from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'terminal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of terminal

1838

in the meaning defined at sense 4

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Other Architecture Terms

buttress, casita, cornice, fanlight, garret, lintel, parapet, pilaster, plinth

Phrases Related to TERMINAL

Related Phrases

TERMINAL Defined for English Language Learners

terminal

adjective

Definition of terminal for English Language Learners

  • : causing death eventually : leading finally to death

  • : having an illness that cannot be cured and that will soon lead to death

  • : of or relating to patients who have a terminal illness

terminal

noun

Definition of terminal for English Language Learners

  • : a building where buses or trains regularly stop so that passengers can get on and off

  • : a building at an airport where people get on and off airplanes

  • : a computer or a combination of a keyboard and a video display that is connected to a system and used for entering or receiving data

TERMINAL Defined for Kids

1

terminal

adjective ter·mi·nal \ ˈtər-mə-nᵊl \

Definition of terminal for Students

: relating to or forming an end
  • branches with terminal buds
2

terminal

noun

Definition of terminal for Students

1 : either end of a transportation line or a passenger or freight station located at it
  • the bus terminal
2 : a device (as in a computer system) used to put in, receive, and display information
  • He typed his request into the terminal.
3 : a device at the end of a wire or on a machine for making an electrical connection

Medical Dictionary

1

terminal

adjective ter·mi·nal \ ˈtərm-nəl, -ən-ᵊl \

medical Definition of terminal

1 : of, relating to, or being at an end, extremity, boundary, or terminus
  • the terminal phalanx of a finger
2 a : leading ultimately to death : fatal
  • terminal cancer
b : approaching or close to death : being in the final stages of a fatal disease
  • a terminal patient
c : of or relating to patients with a terminal illness
  • terminal care
3 : being at or near the end of a chain of atoms making up a molecule
  • the terminal carbon
—

terminally

play \-ē\ adverb
2

terminal

noun

medical Definition of terminal

: a part that forms an end; especially : nerve ending
  • synthesis of a neurotransmitter in the presynaptic terminal of a neuron
  • —R. J. Wurtman

Learn More about terminal

  1. See words that rhyme with terminal Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for terminal Spanish Central: Translation of terminal Nglish: Translation of terminal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of terminal for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about terminal

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