termini
|ter-mi-ni|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɝmɪnaɪ/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɜːmɪnaɪ/
(terminus)
end point
Etymology
'termini' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'terminus', where 'termin-' meant 'boundary, end'.
'terminus' was used in Latin with the same sense and was borrowed into English (via Late Latin/Old French influences); the Latin plural form 'termini' has been used in English as the plural of 'terminus'.
Initially it meant 'boundary or limit' in Latin; over time the word retained that sense but also came to be commonly used for specific modern senses such as 'end of a railway or bus line'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural form of 'terminus' meaning the end point of a route, line, or transportation service (e.g., a final station or terminal).
The termini of the subway line are always busy during rush hour.
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Noun 2
plural form of 'terminus' meaning a boundary or limit — a point marking the end or border of an area.
Historical maps mark the city's ancient termini along the river.
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Noun 3
plural form of 'terminus' in anatomy or biology meaning the end or extremity of a structure (e.g., the end of a nerve or vessel).
The surgeons examined the nerve termini under a microscope.
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Last updated: 2026/01/11 11:07