I. ˈtərmən ə l, 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