| 释义 |
ter·mi·nal
I. \ˈtərmənəl, ˈtə̄m-, ˈtəim-, -mnəl\ adjective
Etymology: Latin terminalis, from terminus boundary, end + -alis -al — more at term
1.
a. : of or relating to an end, extremity, boundary, or terminus
< terminal pillar >
b. : growing at the end of a branch or stem
< terminal bud >
— compare lateral
c. : of or relating to either end of a transport line
< terminal airport >
< freight pickup is a terminal service >
< terminal charge >
2.
a. : of or relating to a fixed period of time : occurring in a term or each term
< terminal examinations >
< terminal payments >
b. : relating to or constituting a term in a proposition or equation
< terminal quantity >
c. : occurring at or contributing to the end of life
< terminal pneumonia >
< terminal cancer >
3.
a. : occurring at or constituting the end of a closed series : concluding, final
< terminal syllable >
: ultimate
< terminal problems >
b. of an educational institution or program : constituting an entity that is limited but complete : leading to an end which may but need not be a step to further education
< the modern junior college, besides preparing some of its students for the four-year college, has a terminal curriculum >
c. : at or near the end of a chain of atoms constituting a molecule
< a terminal hydroxyl group >
< terminal bonds >
Synonyms: see last
II. noun
(-s)
1. : a part that forms the end : end, extremity, termination
2. : a letter, sound, syllable, or word, forming a termination
3. : a terminating and usually ornamental detail : finial
4. : a device attached to the end of a wire or cable or to a piece of electrical apparatus for convenience in making connections — see lightning arrester illustration
5. : an apical growth on a plant
6.
a. : either end of a carrier line (as a railroad, trucking or shipping line, or airline) with classifying yards, dock and lighterage facilities, management offices, storage sheds, and freight and passenger stations
b. : a freight or passenger station that is central to a considerable area or serves as a junction at any point with other lines
c. : a town or city at the end of a carrier line : terminus
III. adjective
1. : approaching or close to death : being in the final stages of a fatal disease
< a terminal patient >
2. : extremely or excessively severe
< terminal boredom >
IV. noun
: a combination of a keyboard and output device (as a video display unit) by which data can be entered into or output from a computer or electronic communications system |