Terminus Meaning
/ˈtɜːmɪnəs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounThe end or final point of something.
nounThe end point of a transportation system, or the town or city in which it is located.
Sentence Examples
In 1996, the name of Victoria Terminus was changed to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.
The train departed after ten minutes, arriving at the terminus only five minutes late.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiking trail's ____ was a beautiful mountain lake at the end.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The central bus station acts as the final ____ for all the major routes in the city.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *terh₂-? Proto-Indo-European *ter-? Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *térmn̥ Proto-Italic *termn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-nós Proto-Italic *-nos Proto-Italic *term(e)nos Latin terminuslbor. English terminus Learned borrowing from Latin terminus (“boundary, limit”). Doublet of term, Terminus, and termon.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"My brother supposes they must have filled outside London, for at that time the furious terror of the people had rendered the central termini impossible."
— 1898, H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, London: William Heinemann, page 171:
"The arrangement for certain long-distance trains to call at suburban stations (saving passengers the trouble of journeying to the termini), which proved popular last year, is being extended."
— 1951 June, “British Railways Summer Services”, in Railway Magazine, page 419:
"Wuhan is the terminus for cruises to the Yanzi^([sic – meaning Yangtze]) River gorges."
— 1991, “China”, in All-Asia Guide, volume III, Hongkong: Review Publishing, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 45:
"Thirty-five years ago, many journeys around London meant having to pass through the centre of the capital. That's no longer the case, which takes real pressure off the city's termini as well as underground routes such as the Circle Line."
— 2020 May 20, Paul Bigland, “East London Line's renaissance”, in Rail, page 49:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The hiking trail's ____ was a beautiful mountain lake at the end.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The central bus station acts as the final ____ for all the major routes in the city.