gateway
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.an entrance or passage that can be closed with a gate.
n.a physical opening or passage in a wall or fence that is secured by a gate.
Simple“The stone gateway led into a beautiful hidden garden behind the house.”
In context“The medieval gateway remained the only intact portion of the original city walls, serving as a reminder of the town's defensive history.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a place or situation that gives you the chance to reach or experience something else.
n.a location or circumstance regarded as providing the primary means of access to a region, state, or opportunity.
Simple“The city is often called the gateway to the mountains because so many hikers start there.”
In context“For many young graduates, this internship serves as a gateway to a career in international diplomacy.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a device or program that connects two different computer networks so they can talk to each other.
n.a network node that connects two networks using different protocols, often serving as an entry point to the wider internet.
Simple“If the gateway is down, none of the computers in the office can access the internet.”
In context“The network administrator configured the secure gateway to filter incoming traffic and prevent unauthorised access to the internal server.”
UsageOften used in the context of 'default gateway' in network settings.
Synonymsaccess pointinterface - 04 C1 Advanced
v.to make something available through a specific entrance or computer point.
v.to provide or control access to a resource or network through a specific interface.
Simple“The company decided to gateway their internal tools through a single secure portal.”
In context“By gatewaying the legacy database through a modern API, the developers allowed the mobile app to retrieve real-time inventory data.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
“An important commercial port, it is also one of the main gateways to seaside resorts along the coast, including Sunny Beach, a prime tourist destination for its golden sands.”
“Gateways are like the Main Street of the parks, which depend on them to lodge, feed and guide visitors.”
From gate + way.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.