terminal
terminal Lexical Profile
terminal Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A building or set of buildings at an airport, railway, or bus station where passengers embark and disembark.
"We need to catch a shuttle to the international terminal to check in for our flight."
A computer or device, typically consisting of a keyboard and monitor, used to interface with a central server or network.
"The bank teller logged into the secure system from her desktop terminal."
A point of connection for closing an electrical circuit.
"Be careful when attaching the jumper cables to the battery's positive terminal."
• adjective
Predicted to lead to death, especially slowly; incurable.
"The patient was tragically diagnosed with terminal cancer and moved to palliative care."
Relating to or situated at the end or extremity of something.
"The terminal branches of the tree were damaged by the severe frost."
Forming or relating to a final point in a process or sequence.
"The river reaches its terminal point where it empties into the vast ocean."
Word Nuance & Usage
When describing diseases, 'terminal' implies an incurable and ultimately fatal condition, distinguishing it from 'chronic' (long-lasting but manageable) or 'acute' (sudden and severe but often treatable).
• Rhymes for terminal
Word Origin & Etymology
Late Middle English: from Latin terminalis, from terminus 'end, boundary'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.