Definition

1. Noun:
   • A major road, typically with multiple lanes in each direction, that has a physical barrier (such as a median, guardrail, or strip of land) separating the lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions. This design enhances safety by preventing head-on collisions.

Usage

• The term "divided highway" is used to describe the physical infrastructure of a road. It is a standard term in North American English for such roads, which can range from major urban thoroughfares to intercity freeways.
• In British English, the equivalent term is "dual carriageway."

Examples

• Noun:
  • The accident occurred after a car crossed the median of the divided highway.
  • For the next 20 miles, the route follows a divided highway.
  • Driving on a divided highway is generally safer than on a two-lane road.

Advanced Usage

• The term specifically refers to the road's divided physical structure. It does not inherently imply controlled access (like a freeway or motorway), although many divided highways are also limited-access roads.
• "to be a divided highway": Describes the state or classification of a road.
  • The old road was upgraded to a divided highway last year.

Variants and Related Words

• Dual carriageway (n): The British English term for a divided highway.
• Freeway / Motorway (n): A type of divided highway with fully controlled access (no intersections or traffic lights). All freeways are divided highways, but not all divided highways are freeways.
• Median (n): The barrier or strip that divides the lanes of a divided highway.

Synonyms

• Dual carriageway (UK English)
• Split highway

Related Phrases

• Divided road: A less common, more general synonym.
• Limited-access divided highway: Specifies a divided highway with entry and exit primarily via ramps.

Noun

1. a highway divided down the middle by a barrier that separates traffic going in different directions
   • in Britain they call a divided highway a dual carriageway