expressway
UK[ɪkˈsprɛsweɪ]US[ɪkˈsprɛsweɪ]
n
A wide road in a city or between cities, on which vehicles can travel fast for long distances, with a limited number of entry and exit points.
Morpheme Breakdown
express
way
express
fast
way
road
Etymology
The word "expressway" is a modern compound, formed in American English during the early 20th century to describe a new type of high-speed road. The first element, "express," draws from its use in "express train," implying a service that is fast, direct, and makes few stops. The second element, "way," is a fundamental Germanic term for a path or route. Thus, the term literally and logically denotes a "road for fast, direct travel," perfectly capturing its function as a limited-access highway designed for unimpeded, high-speed vehicular movement.
Analysis
Structure: express (fast) + way (road)
- express: From Latin 'expressus', meaning "pressed out" or "clearly shown," later developing the sense of "designed for fast, direct service."
- way: From Old English 'weg', meaning "road, path, course of travel."
Examples
We took the expressway to avoid the traffic lights in the city center.
The new expressway has significantly reduced travel time between the two metropolitan areas.
Accidents on the expressway can cause major delays for miles.