terminal

adjective ter·mi·nal \ ˈtərm-nəl , ˈtər-mə-nᵊl \

Updated on: 25 Apr 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

She was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
I was suffering from terminal boredom.
another person with terminal stupidity
branches that end in a terminal bud

Recent Examples of terminal from the Web

The Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority unanimously voted on Monday to award a contract to RS&H California Inc. to prepare an environmental impact statement for the 14-gate terminal project.

— anthony clark carpio, latimes.com, "Hollywood Burbank Airport selects consultant to prepare environmental impact statement," 21 Apr. 2018
Since the canal completed a $5 billion expansion almost two years ago, traders and terminal developers have been closely watching the authority's ability to accommodate the jump in tanker traffic.

— ryan collins and naureen s. malik, Houston Chronicle, "A first for Panama Canal: Three LNG tankers crossing in one day," 19 Apr. 2018
The center was initially conceived as a temporary solution during terminal renovations in 2015, but was made permanent last year, in an effort to divert traffic from overcrowding airport roadways.

— susan glaser, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Hopkins airport seeks fee increase on off-site parking, hotel shuttles to fund capital improvements," 18 Apr. 2018
Expansion of High School options for non-traditional students this includes pregnant women, bread winners, single fathers, handicapped individuals and those suffering from constant or terminal illness.

— staff reports, charlotteobserver, "NC House candidates: Where they stand on key issues | Charlotte Observer," 17 Apr. 2018
The new, south terminal now under construction will house its checkpoint in what will amount to a very large box where lanes and officers can be added as needed.

— kevin spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando International Airport tops for bomb dogs," 13 Apr. 2018
Rebates for terminal space rental are also being offered, said Hampton Brown, director of air service planning.

— lori weisberg, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego nonstop to Frankfurt and beyond starts this week," 21 Mar. 2018
There's parking on the fifth floor of the terminal parking garage, making it a convenient option.

— james briggs, Indianapolis Star, "Briggs: I've been using BlueIndy for 4 months. Here's how it fits into Indianapolis transit.," 16 Mar. 2018
Eventually, Nectome wants to essentially embalm people with terminal ilnesses while they are sedated, but still alive, then freeze their bodies with brains inside.

— andy rosen, BostonGlobe.com, "Ready to upload your brain to a computer? MIT says not so fast," 6 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 3a

See Words from the same year

terminal Synonyms

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

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

I will meet you outside the bus terminal.
Flight 1584 is now departing from Gate 6 in Terminal A.
You are not allowed in the terminal without a ticket.
Ten terminals are connected to this server.
You will need to clean the corrosion off the battery terminals.

Recent Examples of terminal from the Web

Nixon canceled his prepared speech and, leaving for a Wisconsin event, told me to be at the private terminal at La Guardia Sunday to brief him on LBJ’s address to the nation.

— patrick j. buchanan, WSJ, "With Nixon in ’68: The Year America Came Apart," 5 Apr. 2018
Police and National Guard troops put up tape barring hundreds of rush-hour commuters from exiting the terminal at 8th Avenue, directing them to 9th Avenue and shouting for people to get out of the area.

— henry goldman, Bloomberg.com, "White Powder That Briefly Shut New York’s Port Authority Terminal Deemed Non-Toxic," 4 Apr. 2018
Those winds are believed to be the cause of a hangar collapse near West Monroe at Freeland, at the Jet Linx private terminal at Houston Hobby.

— samantha ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Strong storms damage hangar at Hobby Airport," 4 Apr. 2018
The City Council last week allowed Mayor Rahm Emanuel to borrow up to $4 billion for the plan to add gates, concourses and an updated international terminal at the airport.

— mary wisniewski, chicagotribune.com, "O'Hare's on-time performance improves, moves from bottom of the pile to middle: FAA," 3 Apr. 2018
Mohamadou Mbacke, 31, was last seen at terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

— michelle miller, CBS News, "Feds launch manhunt for prisoner who escaped airport just before deportation," 28 Mar. 2018
Salt Lake City’s airport is building a new terminal and other facilities at a cost of $3 billion.

— martin e. comas, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Sanford airport expansion project cost jumps nearly 40 percent to $60.6M," 28 Mar. 2018
Officials at Mitchell International Airport said Thursday afternoon that the driver of a hotel shuttle van lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the international arrivals terminal at the airport.

— joe taschler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Hotel shuttle van crashes into international arrivals terminal at Mitchell International Airport," 22 Mar. 2018
At one point in the movie, Kuhlmann is seen leaving the compound and heading to the airport terminal to make a breathy phone call to her boyfriend, Gerd Schnepel.

— kate samuelson, Time, "The True Story Behind the Movie 7 Days in Entebbe," 16 Mar. 2018

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

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

terminal

adjective ter·mi·nal \ ˈtər-mə-nᵊl \

Definition of terminal for Students

: relating to or forming an end

branches with terminal buds

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

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

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

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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terminal

Definition of terminal

terminally

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Origin and Etymology of terminal

terminal Synonyms

Synonyms

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Synonym Discussion of terminal

terminal

Definition of terminal

Examples of terminal in a Sentence

Recent Examples of terminal from the Web

First Known Use of terminal

Other Architecture Terms

Phrases Related to TERMINAL

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TERMINAL Defined for English Language Learners

terminal

Definition of terminal for English Language Learners

terminal

Definition of terminal for English Language Learners

TERMINAL Defined for Kids

terminal

Definition of terminal for Students

terminal

Definition of terminal for Students

Medical Dictionary

terminal

medical Definition of terminal

terminally

terminal

medical Definition of terminal

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