railway

American  

[reyl-wey] / ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

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.

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railway British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of railway

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

Example Sentences

It comes with more than just a castle, however, and even boasts its own narrow-gauge railway.

From BBC

In 2023, grand plans were unveiled in New Delhi for an India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor -- to link railways, ports, electricity, data networks and pipelines, including through Saudi Arabia and Israel.

From Barron's

But nationwide railway, road or air services are expected to run as usual.

From Barron's

They incorporated "Euler curves" -- a type of smooth curve also found in road and railway design.

From Science Daily

Four years ago, almost to the day, I was at the main railway station in Kyiv, watching a scene straight out of Europe's dark past play out in a bitter wind off the Ukrainian steppe.

From BBC

Related Words

• line
• rail line
• track