turnpike

noun

turn·​pike ˈtərn-ˌpīk 

1

a(1)

: a road (such as an expressway) for the use of which tolls are collected

(2)

: a road formerly maintained as a turnpike

b

: a main road

especially : a paved highway with a rounded surface

2

: tollgate

Synonyms

• arterial
• artery
• avenue
• boulevard
• carriageway [British]
• drag
• drive
• expressway
• freeway
• high road
• highway
• pass
• pike
• road
• roadway
• route
• row
• street
• thoroughfare
• thruway
• trace
• way

Examples of turnpike in a Sentence

the turnpike was jammed with people heading south for the long weekend

Recent Examples on the Web

After years of debate, legal wrangling and ultimately some legislative intervention, the tolls were lifted and the turnpike was renamed Interstate 30. —Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024

The increase, which goes into effect on March 1, will drive up tolls by an average of 15 cents on the turnpike and 5 cents on the parkway, according to Turnpike officials. —Christian Wade / The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Feb. 2024

In Oklahoma, some of the machines are located along turnpikes, in casinos, on university campuses, at a library or outside fire stations. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 22 Feb. 2024

For decades, ticketing and business staffs worked at the stadium while football operations were up the turnpike in Davie. —Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

The department also noted that during the rescue, there were two other crashes on the southbound side of the turnpike due to distracted driving and people recording cell phone videos of the incident. —David Chiu, Peoplemag, 28 Dec. 2023

There have been reports of Florida residents asking their car insurance companies to cover frozen iguana damage, US Postal Service employees have been greeted by alligator customers, and grazing cows have caused major turnpikes to close for a time. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023

The northbound side of the turnpike was closed for several hours, according to authorities with the Pennsylvania Turnpike. —Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023

Additional evacuations took place at nearby residential areas, including Sterling Ranches just west of the turnpike. —Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English turnepike revolving frame bearing spikes and serving as a barrier, from turnen to turn + pike

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

turnpike

noun

turn·​pike ˈtərn-ˌpīk 

1

: a road one must pay to use

2

: a main road

Etymology

Middle English turnepike "a turning frame bearing spikes that is used as a barrier," from turnen "to turn" and pike "a pointed weapon"

Word Origin

In the Middle Ages, a spiked barrier would sometimes be placed on a road or bridge to protect against sudden attack. The barrier would have to be turned to allow passage. The Middle English word for such a barrier was turnepike. This word was formed from the verb turnen, meaning "to turn," and the noun pike, meaning "a sharp-tipped weapon." With a slight change in spelling, turnpike later came to be used as the word for a simple gate placed across a road. In order to pass through the turnpike, travelers would have to pay a fee or toll. A road on which these tollgates were found was called a turnpike road. Such a road in time became known simply as a turnpike.