different between territory vs railhead

English

Etymology

Latin territorium from terra (“the earth”) and -torium (“place of occurrence”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?t????t??i/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /?t???t(?)?i/

Noun

territory (countable and uncountable, plural territories)

1. A large extent or tract of land; for example a region, country or district.
2. (Canada) One of three of Canada's federated entities, located in the country's Arctic, with fewer powers than a province and created by an act of Parliament rather than by the Constitution: Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
3. (Australia) One of three of Australia's federated entities, located in the country's north and southeast, with fewer powers than a state and created by an act of Parliament rather than by the Constitution: Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory.
4. A geographic area under control of a single governing entity such as state or municipality; an area whose borders are determined by the scope of political power rather than solely by natural features such as rivers and ridges.
5. (ecology) An area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against its conspecifics.
6. (sports and games) The part of the playing field or board over which a player or team has control.
7. A geographic area that a person or organization is responsible for in the course of work.
8. A location or logical space which someone owns or controls.
9. A market segment or scope of professional practice over which an organization or type of practitioner has exclusive rights.
10. An area of subject matter, knowledge, or experience.
    • 12 July 2012, Sam Adams, AV Club Ice Age: Continental Drift

      The matter of whether the world needs a fourth Ice Age movie pales beside the question of why there were three before it, but Continental Drift feels less like an extension of a theatrical franchise than an episode of a middling TV cartoon, lolling around on territory that’s already been settled.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

English

Etymology

rail +? head

Noun

railhead (plural railheads)

1. (rail transport) A point on a railway system where goods (or passengers) are loaded, unloaded or transferred to other transport.
2. The furthest point on a railroad/railway under construction to which rails have been laid.
3. (rail transport) The top surface (head) of a rail.

   Alternative form: rail head
4. (military) An area of hostile territory at the end of a rail line that, when captured, serves for the continuous movement into position of further troops and material.

See also

• airhead
• beachhead
• bridgehead

References

• “railhead”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

Anagrams

• headrail