turnpike
/'tə:npaik/
Definition
- Noun:
- A toll road, especially a major highway where a fee is charged for passage: A "turnpike" is a high-speed, limited-access road on which drivers must pay a toll to use it.
- A gate or barrier set across a road to stop travelers until a toll is paid (historical): Historically, a "turnpike" was a gate on a road, often a pivoting pike or barrier, which was turned aside once a toll was paid.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Modern):
- We took the turnpike to get to the city quickly, but we had to pay a toll.
- The state turnpike is well-maintained but expensive for daily commuters.
- Noun (Historical):
- In the 18th century, travelers often encountered a turnpike every few miles.
- The coach had to stop at the turnpike to pay the fee before proceeding.
Advanced Usage
- "to be on the turnpike": to be traveling on a toll highway.
- We made good time once we were on the turnpike.
- "turnpike authority": the governing body responsible for operating and maintaining a toll road.
- The turnpike authority announced an increase in toll rates.
Variants and Related Words
- Turnpiking (n, historical): The practice or system of maintaining roads by charging tolls.
- Turnpiking was common in Britain before the railways.
- Toll road (n): A road for which a charge (toll) is levied for passage; a synonym for the modern sense of "turnpike."
- Tollway (n): Another term for a toll road, similar to "turnpike."
Synonyms
- Toll road: A road requiring payment for use.
- Thruway (US): A major highway, sometimes a toll road.
- Expressway: A high-speed road, which may or may not be a toll road.
Related Phrases
- Hit the turnpike (idiom, informal): To begin a journey on a major highway.
- It's late; we should hit the turnpike now if we want to get there by morning.
- Turnpike cruiser (historical): A term for a highwayman or robber who operated on turnpike roads.
Noun
-
an expressway on which tolls are collected
-
(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid
