railway

[reyl-wey]

noun

1. a rail line with lighter-weight equipment and roadbed than a main-line railroad.

2. a railroad, especially one operating over relatively short distances.

3. Also called trackway. any line or lines of rails rail forming a road of flanged-wheel equipment.

4. Chiefly British.,  railroad.

railway

/ ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

1. a permanent track composed of a line of parallel metal rails fixed to sleepers, for transport of passengers and goods in trains

2. any track on which the wheels of a vehicle may run

   a cable railway

3. the entire equipment, rolling stock, buildings, property, and system of tracks used in such a transport system

4. the organization responsible for operating a railway network

5. (modifier) of, relating to, or used on a railway or railways

   a railway engine

   a railway strike

Other Word Forms

• railwayed adjective
• railwayless adjective
• interrailway adjective
• prerailway adjective
• unrailwayed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of railway¹

First recorded in 1770–80; rail ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

The Pacific Railway Act chartered the first transcontinental railway, the Union Pacific.

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An abandoned station, a few rusted carriages and a dozen metres of track are all that is left of a Soviet railway in southern Armenia.

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It says reform of the railways, being led by the UK Government, will help in the long run.

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He also works part-time on the railways and delivering parcels during the rest of the week as he tries to grow his business.

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The second hit at a time when evacuations from the area were already under way, a statement from the railways body said.

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Related Words

• line 
• rail line www.thesaurus.com
• track