tramway

American  

[tram-wey] / ˈtræmˌweɪ /

noun

1. a crude railroad of wooden rails or of wooden rails capped with metal treads.

2. British. tramline.

3. Mining. a track, usually elevated, or roadway for mine haulage.

4. Also called cable tramway,.  Also called ropeway.  Also called aerial railway,.  Also called aerial tramway,.  a system for hauling passengers and freight in vehicles suspended from a cable or cables supported by a series of towers, hangers, or the like: used over canyons, between mountain peaks, etc.

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tramway British  

/ ˈtræmˌweɪ /

noun

1. another name for tramline

2. 1. a public transportation system using trams

   2. the company owning or running such a system

3. Also called (esp US): tramroad.  a small or temporary railway for moving freight along tracks, as in a quarry

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Etymology

Origin of tramway

First recorded in 1815–25; tram ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

The accident, which saw the picture-postcard 19th-century Gloria tramway hurtle into a building after careering off the rails, shocked the Portuguese capital, laying bare fears over the safety of the popular yet ageing tourist attraction.

From Barron's • Oct. 20, 2025

The confession comes three days after park officials sought help from the public about the damaged tower that was part of the Saline Valley Salt Tram, a 13-mile aerial tramway built in 1911.

From Los Angeles Times • May 16, 2024

“I have hiked along sections of this tramway, and am amazed by the tenacity it took to build,” National Park Service Supt.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2024

Snowbird, with its captivating Brutalist architecture and base-to-summit tramway, is also the stuff of legend.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 10, 2024

It was a lovely day and we drove out through the park and out along the tramway and out of town where the road was dusty.

From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway