noun
terminus
TUR-mih-nus/ˈtɜːrmɪnəs/
The endpoint of a route or sequence.
The train reaches the terminus beside the buffer stop.
Etymology
Latin terminus named an end or boundary. Applied to transportation lines, this general idea of a limit became the specific place where a route ends.
In context
Authorised in 1834 and opened in 1840, Southampton Terminus was built as the end point of the London and Southampton Railway—later renamed the London and South Western Railway.
More examples
- The lighthouse marks the northern terminus of the coastal trail.
- The rail line connects two busy termini.
- A final inspection serves as the terminus of the production process.
Forms
terminus · termini · terminuses
terminal adjective — Situated at the end of something.
Similar words
- endpoint
- Endpoint is more general and less formal than terminus.
- destination
- Destination emphasizes intended arrival, not necessarily the end of a route.
- terminal
- Terminal often names a transportation facility rather than just an endpoint.