terminator

[ tur-muh-ney-ter ]

/ ˈtɜr məˌneɪ tər /

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noun

a person or thing that terminates.

Astronomy. the dividing line between the illuminated and the unilluminated part of a satellite or planet, especially the moon.

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Origin of terminator

1760–70; <Late Latin terminātor, equivalent to terminā(re) to terminate + -tor-tor

Words nearby terminator

terminal velocity, terminate, terminating decimal, termination, termination codon, terminator, terminator seed, terminatory, terminology, term insurance, terminus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use terminator in a sentence

A Terminator or other cyborg wearing this skin would have to bathe often in a broth of nutrients or use some other complex skin care routine.
Scientists grew living human skin around a robotic finger|Maria Temming|June 9, 2022|Science News
Putting guns or missiles in the hands of robots raises the sci-fi specter of Terminators attempting to eliminate humankind.
Now that computers connect us all, for better and worse, what’s next?|Matthew Hutson|February 24, 2022|Science News
You know, James Cameron: the director of The Terminator, True Lies, Titanic, and Avatar, among other obscure movies.
James Cameron Dives into the Ocean's Abyss|Andrew Romano|July 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Queen Victoria had the reputation of being a humorless, dour battleaxe, a Terminator in bombazine.
The Cult of Royal Porn|Tim Teeman|April 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Most of the Schwarzenegger movies currently in development are throwbacks to his glory days: Terminator: Genesis.
Is This the End of Arnold Schwarzenegger's Comeback?|Andrew Romano|March 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Terminator was the second feature film James Cameron had directed, and was his first hit.
The Week in Nostalgia: ‘Halloween’ Turns 35, Butch and Sundance Debut, and the iPod is Born (VIDEO)|Chancellor Agard|October 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
After surprising box office success, The Terminator would go on to spawn three sequels.
The Week in Nostalgia: ‘Halloween’ Turns 35, Butch and Sundance Debut, and the iPod is Born (VIDEO)|Chancellor Agard|October 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Observations to this effect go back as far as 1643, when Fontana at Naples observed this to be the condition of the terminator.
The Story of the Solar System|George F. Chambers
Our light was dimming as we passed the terminator and pulled over Earth's dark side.
The Trouble with Telstar|John Berryman
The general shape of this line is never a circle but always elliptical, and astronomers call it the terminator.
Astronomy|David Todd
They are those circular spots near the terminator before spoken of, which look like bubbles of oil floating on water.
Letters on Astronomy|Denison Olmsted
They would certainly be indicated on the terminator, and yet not a trace of such markings has been found.
Mars and its Mystery|Edward Sylvester Morse

British Dictionary definitions for terminator

terminator

/ (ˈtɜːmɪˌneɪtə) /

noun

the line dividing the illuminated and dark part of the moon or a planet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012