terminal Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods
    terminus; depot.
  2. noun a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at which electric current enters or leaves
    pole.
  3. noun either extremity of something that has length
    end.
    • 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
  4. noun electronic equipment consisting of a device providing access to a computer; has a keyboard and display
  5. adjective of or relating to or situated at the ends of a delivery route
    • freight pickup is a terminal service
    • terminal charges
  6. adjective relating to or occurring in a term or fixed period of time
    • terminal examinations
    • terminal payments
  7. adjective being or situated at an end
    • the endmost pillar
    • terminal buds on a branch
    • a terminal station
    • the terminal syllable
  8. adjective satellite occurring at or forming an end or termination
    concluding; last; final.
    • his concluding words came as a surprise
    • the final chapter
    • the last days of the dinosaurs
    • terminal leave
  9. adjective satellite causing or ending in or approaching death
    • a terminal patient
    • terminal cancer

WordNet

Ter"mi*nal adjective
Etymology
L. terminals: cf. F. terminal. See Term, n.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to the end or extremity; forming the extremity; as, a terminal edge.
  2. (Bot.) Growing at the end of a branch or stem; terminating; as, a terminal bud, flower, or spike.
Ter"mi*nal noun
Definitions
  1. That which terminates or ends; termination; extremity.
  2. (Eccl.) Either of the ends of the conducting circuit of an electrical apparatus, as an inductorium, dynamo, or electric motor, usually provided with binding screws for the attachment of wires by which a current may be conveyed into or from the machine; a pole.
  3. (a) The station at either end of a line used by a carrier (as a bus line or railroad) for transporting freight or passengers; also, a station on such a line which serves a large area. (b) The city in which the terminal is located.

Webster 1913