transcontinental
transcontinental Lexical Profile
• adjective
Crossing, spanning, or extending across a continent, especially from one coast to the other.
"The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 dramatically reduced travel time across the United States."
Situated on the opposite side of a continent, or spanning the boundary between two continents.
"Turkey and Egypt are well-known examples of transcontinental countries that bridge two distinct geographical landmasses."
• noun
A train, railway line, or flight that travels across an entire continent.
"The passengers boarded the evening transcontinental in Toronto for the long scenic journey to Vancouver."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse "transcontinental" (crossing or spanning a single continent from coast to coast) with "intercontinental" (extending or traveling between two or more different continents).
• Rhymes for transcontinental
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century during the expansion of cross-country railways, combining the Latin prefix trans- ("across") with continental.