autostrada
|au-to-stra-da|
🇺🇸
/ˌaʊtəˈstrɑdə/
🇬🇧
/ˌɔːtəˈstrɑːdə/
road for cars / motorway
Etymology
'autostrada' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'autostrada', where the prefix 'auto-' (from Greek 'autos') meant 'self' (here short for 'automobile') and 'strada' meant 'road' (from Italian 'strada', ultimately from Latin 'strata').
'autostrada' was coined in modern Italian as a compound of 'auto-' + 'strada' in the early 20th century (influenced by the rise of the automobile), and the term was adopted into English usage to refer specifically to Italian motorways during the 20th century.
Initially a literal compound meaning 'road for automobiles' (literally 'self-road' in formation), it came to denote large, high-speed, often tolled motorways; in English it typically refers to Italian motorways or is used in travel contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a high-speed, limited-access highway or motorway in Italy (often tolled), designed for fast motor vehicle traffic.
We took the autostrada from Milan to Venice to save time.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Noun 2
the Italian word for 'motorway' used in English contexts when specifically referring to Italian motorways or in travel writing.
The guidebook warns that traffic on the autostrada can be heavy during holidays.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 00:12