expressway
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A broad, multi-lane highway designed for safe, high-speed, long-distance traffic flow, typically with limited access points (via interchanges or ramps) and no intersections or traffic signals.
Usage
An expressway is a major road for fast travel between cities or across large urban areas. It is characterized by: * Divided lanes (separated by a median). * High speed limits. * Controlled access (vehicles enter and exit only at specific points). * No at-grade crossings (no intersections with other roads, railways, or paths on the same level).
Examples
- "We took the expressway to avoid the stoplights and traffic in the city center."
- "The new expressway has significantly reduced travel time between the two coastal cities."
- "Accidents on the expressway can cause major traffic delays for miles."
Advanced Usage
- "Limited-access expressway": A more precise term emphasizing that entry and exit are only possible at interchanges.
- In legal and transportation engineering contexts, the term specifies a road grade (type) that prioritizes uninterrupted vehicular movement over local access.
Variants and Related Words
- Freeway (noun): Often synonymous in American English; sometimes implies no tolls.
- Motorway (noun): The common term in British English.
- Highway (noun): A broader term for any main public road, which may or may not have controlled access.
- Thruway / Turnpike (noun): Terms often used for expressways that require a toll.
Synonyms
- Superhighway
- Interstate (in the U.S., specifically part of the Interstate Highway System)
Related Idioms/Phrases
- "Expressway to...": Used metaphorically to indicate a very fast or direct route to a goal or state.
- Example: "That training program is an expressway to a management position."
Noun
- a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic