drive-through

Informal, drive-thru

[drahyv-throo]

noun

1. the act of driving through a specified locality or place, especially driving into a place of business, completing a transaction from one's car, and driving out.

   a quick drive-through of Beverly Hills;

   The bank has outside tellers' windows to accept deposits by drive-through.

adjective

1. designed to accommodate or arranged for a drive-through.

   This gas station has a drive-through car wash.

Word History and Origins

Origin of drive-through¹

First recorded in 1970–75; noun and adjectival use of verb phrase drive through