terminus

/ˈtɜːmɪnəs/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɚmɪnəs] /ˈtɜːrmɪnəs/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɚmɪnəs] /ˈtər-mə-nəs How to pronounce terminus (audio)/ (ame, mw)

terminus — noun

  • terminussingular
  • terminiplural

1. A place that serves as the final stop for trains, buses, or other public transpo

1.名詞B2
釋義

A place that serves as the final stop for trains, buses, or other public transport services, where vehicles turn around and passengers can get on or off.

例句

The last train finally arrived at the terminus shortly before midnight.

prepositional phrase: at the terminus

Passengers traveling to the airport should stay on the bus until it reaches the terminus.

collocation: reach the terminus

同義詞
  • terminal

    More common in US English; 'terminal' often refers to a building with passenger facilities, while 'terminus' focuses on the route-end point.

  • end of the line

    Less formal; used conversationally for the final stop on a transport route.

  • station

    Broader meaning — a station can be any stop along the route, not necessarily the final one.

反義詞

文法句型

the terminus

a terminus

[route] terminus

用法筆記

In the United States, 'terminal' is more common than 'terminus' for transport buildings. 'Terminus' is the preferred term in British English for the end point of a route.

常見錯誤

❌I will wait for you at the terminus station.
✅I will wait for you at the terminus.
💡'terminus' already means the station or stop; adding 'station' is redundant.

2. The furthest or ultimate point of something that is not physical, such as a proc

2.名詞C1
釋義

The furthest or ultimate point of something that is not physical, such as a process, a period of time, a discussion, or a goal; the stage after which nothing further happens.

例句

The peace talks reached their terminus when both sides refused to negotiate any further.

abstract: reach one's terminus (formal)

Historians debate whether the empire's fall marked the terminus of a cultural era.

collocation: mark the terminus of [abstract noun]

同義詞
  • end

    More common and neutral in register; suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

  • conclusion

    Emphasises the sense of bringing a process or argument to a close.

  • endpoint

    Technically focused; used in mathematics, computing, and planning contexts.

反義詞
  • beginning

    The point at which something starts.

  • origin

    The source or starting place of a process or development.

文法句型

the terminus of [noun phrase]

reach a terminus

mark the terminus

用法筆記

Frequently found in academic, historical, and formal writing rather than everyday speech. For casual contexts, 'end', 'ending', or 'conclusion' are more natural alternatives.

常見錯誤

❌The terminus of the movie was very sad.
✅The ending of the movie was very sad.
💡'terminus' sounds overly formal for everyday situations like films; use 'end' or 'ending' instead.