terminal
    adj 1: of or relating to or situated at the ends of a delivery
           route; "freight pickup is a terminal service"; "terminal
           charges"
    2: relating to or occurring in a term or fixed period of time;
       "terminal examinations"; "terminal payments"
    3: being or situated at an end; "the endmost pillar"; "terminal
       buds on a branch"; "a terminal station"; "the terminal
       syllable" [ant: intermediate]
    4: occurring at or forming an end or termination; "his
       concluding words came as a surprise"; "the final chapter";
       "the last days of the dinosaurs"; "terminal leave" [syn:
       concluding, final, last, terminal]
    5: causing or ending in or approaching death; "a terminal
       patient"; "terminal cancer"
    n 1: station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers
         or goods [syn: terminal, terminus, depot]
    2: a contact on an electrical device (such as a battery) at
       which electric current enters or leaves [syn: terminal,
       pole]
    3: either extremity of something that has length; "the end of
       the pier"; "she knotted the end of the thread"; "they rode to
       the end of the line"; "the terminals of the anterior arches
       of the fornix" [syn: end, terminal]
    4: electronic equipment consisting of a device providing access
       to a computer; has a keyboard and display

Terminal \Ter"mi*nal\ (-nal), a. [L. terminals: cf. F. terminal.
   See Term, n.]
   1. Of or pertaining to the end or extremity; forming the
      extremity; as, a terminal edge.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Bot.) Growing at the end of a branch or stem;
      terminating; as, a terminal bud, flower, or spike.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Railroads) Pertaining to a railroad terminal; connected
      with the receipt or delivery of freight; as, terminal
      charges.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   Terminal moraine. See the Note under Moraine.

   Terminal statue. See Terminus, n., 2 and 3.

   Terminal velocity.
      (a) The velocity acquired at the end of a body's motion.
      (b) The limit toward which the velocity of a body
          approaches, as of a body falling through the air.
          [1913 Webster]

Terminal \Ter"mi*nal\, n.
   1. That which terminates or ends; termination; extremity.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Eccl.) Either of the ends of the conducting circuit of an
      electrical apparatus, as an inductorium, dynamo, or
      electric motor, usually provided with binding screws for
      the attachment of wires by which a current may be conveyed
      into or from the machine; a pole.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Railroads)
      (a) The end of a line of railroad, with the switches,
          stations, sheds, and other appliances pertaining
          thereto.
      (b) Any station for the delivery or receipt of freight
          lying too far from the main line to be served by mere
          sidings.
      (c) A rate charged on all freight, independent of the
          distance, and supposed to cover the expenses of
          station service, as distinct from mileage rate,
          generally proportionate to the distance and intended
          to cover movement expenses; a terminal charge.
      (d) A town lying at the end of a railroad, in which the
          terminal is located; -- more properly called a
          terminus.
          [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   4. The station at either end of a bus line line which
      transports freight or passengers.
      [PJC]

   5. A station where passenger buses start or end a trip; --
      also called bus terminal.
      [PJC]

   6. The structure at an airport where passengers board or
      debark, and where ticket purchases and baggage pickup is
      performed; -- also called airline terminal.
      [PJC]

   7. (Computers) An electronic device where data may be entered
      into a computer, and information received from it, usually
      consisting of a keyboard and video display unit (monitor);
      the terminal may be integrated or connected directly to a
      computer, or connected by a communications circuit with a
      computer at a remote location; -- also called computer
      terminal.
      [PJC]

   freight terminal, a terminal used for loading or unloading
      of freight.
      [PJC]

terminal

   1.  An electronic or electromechanical device for
   entering data into a computer or a communications system and
   displaying data received.  Early terminals were called
   teletypes, later ones VDUs.  Typically a terminal
   communicates with the computer via a serial line.

   2.  The end of a line where signals are either
   transmitted or received, or a point along the length of a line
   where the signals are made available to apparatus.

   3.  Apparatus to send and/or receive signals on a
   line.

   (1995-10-02)