terminal

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(1) An input/output (I/O) device for a computer that has a keyboard and mouse for input and a video screen for output. Older terminals did not have a mouse and used a printer for output. See dumb terminal and ATM machine.

(2) Any entrance or exit node for input or output; for example, a scanner or camera for input or a monitor or printer for output.

(3) A connector used to attach a wire. The wire is fastened by pressure, by a clip of some type or by tightening a screw. See bindings.

(4) (Terminal) A command line interface on a Unix-based computer. The following example from a Mac OS X computer shows two commands; one that switches the current folder (directory) to the desktop and another that lists the files that begin with "X."

  Function                      Unix Command

  Change directory to desktop   cd desktop
  List files beginning with X   ls X*

The Terminal Window

The two commands required to list files that begin with "X" on the desktop are shown in this Mac example.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your PC, iPhone or Android.

1. Point of entry in a data communications network. Electronic funds transfer terminal devices are Automated Teller Machines, teller terminals, retail Point-Of-Sale Terminals, personal computers in home banking, and touch-tone telephones in automatic telephone bill payment. Sometimes referred to as an electronic window in corporate Cash Management. See also Platform Automation; Treasury Workstation.

2. Authorization device that approves transactions charged to bank credit cards, deposit accounts, retail private label accounts, or travel and entertainment cards. Most of these are inexpensive devices that automatically dial a central computer to obtain authorization, hence the name dial-up terminal. See also Authorization Code.

adjective

1. Of or relating to a terminative condition, stage, or point: final, last¹, latter, ultimate. See start/end.
2. Coming after all others: closing, concluding, final, last¹. See start/end.

adj

Definition: final, deadly
Antonyms: beginning, initial, opening, reviving, starting

1. An electrically conductive element, attached to the end of a conductor or piece of equipment for connection to an external conductor.
2. The ornamental finish, decorative element, or termination of an object, item of construction, or structural part.

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(DOD) A facility designed to transfer cargo from one means of conveyance to another. (Conveyance is the piece of equipment used to transport cargo; i.e., railcar to truck or truck to truck. This is as opposed to mode, which is the type of equipment; i.e., ship to rail, rail to truck.) See also facility.

Borne at the tip of a stem or shoot.

IN BRIEF: Of, at, or forming an end. Also: A main station of a railroad, bus line, or airline, where many trips begin or end.

The truth is that there is only one terminal dignity—love. And the story of a love is not important—what is important is that one is capable of love. — Helen Hayes (1900-1993)

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adj

1. near or approaching an end, such as a terminal bronchiole or a terminal illness. n 2. an input/output device that has a two-way communication capability with a computer.

For a list of words related to terminal, see:

• Diagnostic Terminology - terminal: (adj) fatal; in or of final stage of fatal disease
• Practitioners, Patients, and Facilities - terminal: (adj) designating incurably ill and dying patient
• Electricity and Electronics - terminal: point of current entry or departure from circuit; metal nut on screw or other mechanical device that connects wire to another apparatus
• Data Transmission - terminal: originating or receiving point for signals in telecommunications system
• Hardware and Peripherals - terminal: peripheral device through which user communicates with computer, including keyboard for input and video display for output
• Commercial Airlines, Airports, and Air Force - terminal: airport structure used by arriving and departing passengers and for cargo handling; connection point on flight
• Parts, Practices, and Argot - terminal: city or town at endpoint of line with station or depot; station at junction of lines; yard at end of division
• Types of Buildings - terminal: central transport station serving multiple lines
• Urban Structures and Phenomena - terminal: centrally-located freight or passenger station of public carrier that serves as junction for several lines
• Relative Time - terminal: (adj) final, occurring at the end
• Dead or Dying - terminal: (adj) dying, esp. from fatal illness

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See words rhyming with "terminal."

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Dansk (Danish)
adj. - afsluttende, endelig, yderst, grænse-, termins-, slut-, yder-, ende-
n. - endestation, endepunkt, terminal, pol, klemskrue

idioms:

• terminal velocity    sluthastighed

Nederlands (Dutch)
fataal, terminaal, eind-/beginpunt (van bus-, spoorweg- of luchtvaartlijn), (computer)terminal

Français (French)
adj. - (Bot) terminal, incurable, en phase terminale, (fig) mortel, (Comm, École) trimestriel, (Ling) terminal
n. - terminus, (Aviat) aérogare, terminal, (Comput) terminal, (Élec) borne

idioms:

• terminal velocity    (Phys) vitesse finale, (Aut) vitesse maximale

Deutsch (German)
n. - Endstück, Terminal, (Bus)bahnhof, Anschluß, Pol, Grenzsäule, unheilbar Kranker
adj. - End-, abschließend, Grenz-, unheilbar, moribund, fatal, hoffnungslos, Semester-

idioms:

• terminal velocity    Grenzgeschwindigkeit

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - τέρμα, σταθμός (αεροπλάνου, τρένου, λεωφορείου κ.λπ.), (ηλεκτρ.) ακροδέκτης, πόλος, (Η/Υ) τερματικός σταθμός, τερματικό, (ιατρ.) ασθενής προσβλημένος από θανατηφόρα ασθένεια
adj. - ακραίος, τελικός, καταληκτικός, (για ασθένεια) θανατηφόρος, μοιραίος, (σχολικό) τριμηνιαίος, (για ασθενή) στην τελική φάση θανατηφόρας ασθένειας

idioms:

• terminal velocity    (φυσ.) τελική ταχύτητα (πτώσεως)

Italiano (Italian)
terminale, terminal, fatale

idioms:

• terminal velocity    velocità limite

Português (Portuguese)
n. - final (m), extremidade (f), estação (f) ferroviária final, terminal (m) (Eletr.)
adj. - terminal, final, relativo ao termo

idioms:

• terminal velocity    velocidade final

Русский (Russian)
конечный пункт, вокзал, (элек.) зажим, клемма, конечный, смертельный, неизлечимый, семестровый: триместровый, четвертной

idioms:

• terminal velocity    конечная скорость

Español (Spanish)
adj. - terminal, extremo, desahuciado, final
n. - extremo, final, término

idioms:

• terminal velocity    velocidad terminal

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - slut, ändpunkt, slutstation, terminal
adj. - änd-, topp-, ytterst, avslutande

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
末端的, 极限的, 终点的, 每期的, 定期的, 末端, 极限, 终点, 总站, 终站

idioms:

• terminal velocity    极限速度, 终端速度

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 末端的, 極限的, 終點的, 每期的, 定期的
n. - 末端, 極限, 終點, 總站, 終站

idioms:

• terminal velocity    極限速度, 終端速度

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 끝의, 정기의, 말기의
n. - 말단, 종점, 전극

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 終点, 端子, 端末, 末端, 端末装置
adj. - 末期の, 終わりの, 末端の, 毎期の, 期末の

idioms:

• terminal velocity    終端速度

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) محطه في اخر السكه الحديد او اوله, اخر, نهايه, طرف (صفه) انتهائي, طرفي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮סופנית (מחלה), קרוב לסיום, סופי, הרסנית (תכונה רעה), נגמר במוות, בקצה הגבעול (בוטניקה), בסוף תקופת-הלימודים‬
n. - ‮נקודת-חיבור, מסוף-מחשב, מסוף-נוסעים, מסוף-נפט, תחנה סופית, חולה סופני‬

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Some good "terminal" pages on the web: