Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Causing or ending in death: Describes a disease or condition that will lead to death, or a patient who is dying.
   • Forming the end or extremity: Located at or constituting the end, limit, or terminus of something.
   • Occurring at the end of a fixed period: Relating to or happening at the conclusion of a term, period, or series.
   • Relating to a transportation endpoint: Of or concerning the end of a delivery route or transportation line.

2. Noun:

   • A computer interface: Electronic equipment with a keyboard and display for inputting and receiving data from a computer or network.
   • An endpoint or extremity: Either end of something that has length.
   • An electrical contact point: A point on a device (e.g., a battery) where an electrical connection is made.
   • A transport station: A station at the end of a transportation line where passengers or goods are loaded or unloaded.

Examples

• Adjective:

  • The patient received palliative care for his terminal illness.
  • Please proceed to the terminal station.
  • Students must pass their terminal examinations.

• Noun:

  • The data was entered via a computer terminal.
  • The terminal of the cable was frayed.
  • Connect the red wire to the positive terminal.
  • We met her at the bus terminal.

Advanced Usage

• "Terminal velocity": The constant maximum speed reached by a falling object when the force of gravity is balanced by air resistance.

  • The skydiver reached terminal velocity after a few seconds of freefall.

• "Terminal degree": The highest academic degree in a field of study (e.g., Ph.D., M.D.).

  • A Ph.D. is often considered the terminal degree for university professors.

Variants and Related Words

• Terminate (verb): To bring to an end.
  • The company decided to terminate the contract.
• Termination (noun): The act of ending something or the end point itself.
  • The termination of the lease is next month.
• Terminus (noun): A final point or goal; often used for the end station of a railway or bus line.
  • London is the terminus for this railway line.

Synonyms

• Adjective (end): Final, last, concluding, endmost.
• Adjective (fatal): Fatal, lethal, mortal, deadly.
• Noun (endpoint): End, extremity, terminus.
• Noun (station): Depot, station, terminus.

Related Phrases

• "Terminal leave": Final leave granted to military personnel prior to discharge.

  • He spent his terminal leave traveling with his family.

• "Terminal market": A central market, often in a major city, where goods are finally sold to retailers or consumers.

  • The produce was shipped to the terminal market for distribution.

Idioms

• "Terminal boredom": Extreme, unending boredom. (This is a figurative use of 'terminal' to mean 'seemingly endless' or 'intolerable').
  • The lecture was an exercise in terminal boredom.

Adjective

1. causing or ending in or approaching death
   • a terminal patient
   • terminal cancer
2. occurring at or forming an end or termination
   • his concluding words came as a surprise
   • the final chapter
   • the last days of the dinosaurs
   • terminal leave
3. being or situated at an end
   • the endmost pillar
   • terminal buds on a branch
   • a terminal station
   • the terminal syllable
4. relating to or occurring in a term or fixed period of time
   • terminal examinations
   • terminal payments
5. of or relating to or situated at the ends of a delivery route
   • freight pickup is a terminal service
   • terminal charges

Noun

1. electronic equipment consisting of a device providing access to a computer; has a keyboard and display
2. either extremity of something that has length
   • the end of the pier
   • she knotted the end of the thread
   • they rode to the end of the line
   • the terminals of the anterior arches of the fornix
3. a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves
4. station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods