different between concourse vs thoroughfare

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French concours, from Latin concursus, from concurrere (“to run together”). See concur.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k??k??(?)s/

Noun

concourse (plural concourses)

1. A large open space in or in front of a building where people can gather, particularly one joining various paths, as in a rail station or airport terminal, or providing access to and linking the platforms in a railway terminus.
   • 2018, March 1, Tusdiq Din on BBC Sport, Mohamed Salah: Is Liverpool striker's success improving engagement with Muslim fans?

     In east London in October 2013, during a game between West Ham and Manchester City, a small group of home Muslim fans - with no prayer room available - tried to offer their Maghrib (sunset) prayer on a concourse under the main stand at the club's former home Upton Park.
2. A large group of people; a crowd.
   • 1856-1859, William H. Prescott, History of the Reign of Phillip II

     Amidst the concourse were to be seen the noble ladies of Milan, in gay, fantastic cars, shining in silk brocade.
3. The running or flowing together of things; the meeting of things; confluence.
   • 1662, Thomas Salusbury (translator), Galileo's Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief Systems of the World, First Day:

     ... there was only wanting the concourse of rains ...

   • 1677, Matthew Hale, The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature

     The good frame of the universe was not the product of chance or fortuitous concourse of particles of matter.

   • The drop will begin to move toward the concourse of the glasses.

4. An open space, especially in a park, where several roads or paths meet.
5. (obsolete) concurrence; cooperation
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Pleasantness of Religion (sermon)

     The divine providence is wont to afford its concourse to such proceeding.

Usage notes

In sense "open space", particularly used of indoor spaces, by contrast with plaza, place, square, etc. However, may be used for outdoor spaces as well, primarily high-traffic areas in front of a building.

Coordinate terms

• (open space): circus, plaza

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• thorofare
• throughfare
• thoroughfair (obsolete)
• thorowfair (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English thurghfare, corresponding to thorough- (“through”) +? fare. Compare Old English þurhfaran (“to go through, go over, traverse, pierce, pass through, pass beyond, transcend, penetrate”). Compare also Old English þurhfær (“inner secret place”), German Durchfahrt (“passage through, thoroughfare”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?????f??/

Noun

thoroughfare (plural thoroughfares)

1. (now rare except in certain set phrases) A passage; a way through.
2. A road open at both ends or connecting one area with another; a highway or main street.
   • 2011, Stephen Phelan, The Guardian, 1 Jul 2011:

     Local art is now a viable industry, and hundreds of islanders make a living in it. The thoroughfare of Oneroa village is lined with shops and galleries full of their work.

3. (obsolete) The act of going through; passage; travel, transit.
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book X:

     and made one realm, / Hell and this world, one realm, one continent / Of easy thorough-fare.
4. An unobstructed waterway allowing passage for ships.

Translations