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terminal

When used as an adjective for health, "terminal" is a very sensitive word. It specifically means that a disease cannot be cured and death is expected. In technology, a "terminal" can refer to both the physical hardware (like a screen and keyboard) and the software program where you type commands. When talking about airports, the word is usually used as a countable noun. You will often see it paired with a number or letter, such as "Terminal A" or "Terminal 1".

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon; David is at the airport for a business trip, Chloe is in her dorm.
David Smith

Just touched down. Which terminal should I head to for the shuttle?

David Smith
Chloe Smith
Chloe Smith

Idk, check your email. I'm literally drowning in finals right now.

💡
The conversation centers on the noun definition of 'terminal' as an airport building. Chloe uses the idiom 'drowning in', meaning she is overwhelmed by her schoolwork, reflecting her dramatic student persona.

Meanings

adjective

Occurring at or forming the end of something.

"The terminal phase of the project focused on final testing."

adjective

Referring to a disease that cannot be cured and will eventually lead to death.

"He was diagnosed with a terminal illness last year."

noun

A building at an airport where passengers transfer between ground transportation and the aircraft.

"We will meet you at Terminal 4 of Heathrow Airport."

noun

An electronic device or software interface used for entering data into a computer system.

"The programmer accessed the server via a command-line terminal."

noun

A point at which a conductor or wire comes to an end and is connected to another component.

"Connect the red wire to the positive battery terminal."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026Report an Error