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

A funicular is a type of railway system that allows travel up and down steep slopes, and in Lisbon they are a crucial means of navigating the city's steep, cobbled streets.

From BBC

Portugal is in mourning after at least 17 people died and some 20 more were injured when Lisbon's famous funicular cable railway derailed on Wednesday evening.

From BBC

A funicular is a type of railway system that allows travel up and down steep slopes.

From BBC

At least three people have been killed and 20 others injured after Lisbon's famous Gloria funicular cable railway derailed and crashed, emergency services said.

From BBC

Unlike the Scottish system, English railways are run by a mix of publicly-owned firms and private contractors which the government has pledged to nationalise as their contracts end.

From BBC

Related Words

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