noun
turnpike
TURN-pyk
noun
1
A major road, especially one that charges a toll to drive on it.
"They took the turnpike to save time on the drive."
2
Historically, a barrier or gate across a road that was opened once a toll was paid.
"Travellers once had to stop and pay at the turnpike gate."
How to Use Turnpike
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA toll road, or historically the tollgate that blocked it.
Common pairings
turnpike road
toll on the turnpike
Word Forms
turnpiked past tense, turnpikes plural, turnpikes singular
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They took the _____ to save time on the drive.
Etymology
From Middle English turnpyke, originally a spiked barrier used to block a road until a toll was handed over — from "turn" plus "pike" (a spiked shaft).