gateway
gateway Lexical Profile
gateway Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A means of access, entry, or progression to a particular place, state, or condition.
"A strong education is often considered a vital gateway to better career opportunities and upward mobility."
An opening or structure that can be closed by a gate, serving as an entrance or passage through a wall, fence, or natural barrier.
"We walked through the ancient stone gateway and found ourselves in the magnificent courtyard of the castle."
A network node or piece of networking hardware that serves as an access point to another network, often translating between different protocols.
"The router acts as a gateway, directing traffic between the local office network and the broader internet."
Word Nuance & Usage
Frequently used as an attributive noun to describe something that serves as an initial introduction to a broader category of experiences, habits, or products, such as a 'gateway drug' or a 'gateway city'.
• Rhymes for gateway
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'gate-way', formed by combining 'gate' (door, opening, or barrier) and 'way' (path, road). Used literally since the late 18th century, with figurative and computing senses emerging later.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.