Gateway
|gate-way|
/ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
(gateway)
entry point
Etymology
'gateway' is a compound of the English nouns 'gate' + 'way'.
'gate' comes from Old English 'geat' (meaning 'gate, opening') and 'way' comes from Old English 'weg' (meaning 'path, road'); the compound appeared in Middle English (forms like 'gatewei' or 'gateway') and evolved into modern English 'gateway'.
Originally it referred to a literal way or passage with a gate; over time it developed broader, figurative senses such as 'means of access' and specialized technical uses (for example, in computing).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a physical entrance or opening fitted with a gate; an entry to an enclosed area.
They stood beneath the garden gateway.
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Noun 2
a means of access or entry to a place, system, activity, or opportunity; something that provides a route to a larger or more important thing.
The internship was a gateway to a full-time position at the company.
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Noun 3
in computing and telecommunications, a device or node that connects two different networks and translates or routes traffic between them (a network gateway).
The gateway translates messages between the local network and the external network.
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Last updated: 2025/12/02 14:58