[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/terminal/)

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# terminal

noun (a terminal, terminals); adjective (terminal)

«terminal» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A terminal is a big building at an airport, bus station, train station or port where people start or end their journeys. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#m1)
2. A terminal is one of the metal ends of a battery or electrical part where wires are joined: the positive and negative terminals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#m2)
3. (computers) A terminal is a screen and keyboard used to work with a computer, or a program for typing commands. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#m3)
4. A terminal illness is one that cannot be cured and will lead to death. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#m4)
5. Terminal means at the end: «terminal station». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#m5)

### In the lessons

In science lessons on circuits, a battery has a positive (+) terminal and a negative (−) terminal, and wires must join them to make a complete circuit. In travel and everyday life, «Terminal 2» at an airport is where you check in. In coding, programmers type commands into a terminal. In health and family talk, «terminal illness» is a sad and serious phrase. Phrases: «airport terminal», «bus terminal», «positive terminal», «terminal illness».

### Examples

- Our flight leaves from Terminal 5. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#x1)
- Connect the wire to the positive terminal of the battery. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#x2)
- The bus terminal was busy at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#x3)
- She typed the command into the terminal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#x4)
- Grandpa has a terminal illness, so the doctors are keeping him comfortable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#x5)
- The ferry terminal has a cafe and a shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/#x6)

### Note

Countable noun; adjective has no comparative. «Terminal» comes from the idea of «end» (terminus). In circuit problems: current flows from the positive terminal round the circuit to the negative terminal. Do not confuse with «terminate» (to end) or «terminus» (the last stop of a line).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «terminal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terminal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«terminal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/terminal.html) on Mova free.