# gateway

/ˈɡeɪtˌweɪ/ (US) · /ɡˈeɪtweɪ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gateway
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Senses

### 1. physical entrance

noun · CEFR B1

an entrance or passage that can be closed with a gate.

For teachers: a physical opening or passage in a wall or fence that is secured by a gate.

- The stone gateway led into a beautiful hidden garden behind the house.
- The medieval gateway remained the only intact portion of the original city walls, serving as a reminder of the town's defensive history.

### 2. metaphorical access

noun · CEFR B2

a place or situation that gives you the chance to reach or experience something else.

For teachers: a location or circumstance regarded as providing the primary means of access to a region, state, or opportunity.

- The city is often called the gateway to the mountains because so many hikers start there.
- For many young graduates, this internship serves as a gateway to a career in international diplomacy.

### 3. computing/networking

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a device or program that connects two different computer networks so they can talk to each other.

For teachers: a network node that connects two networks using different protocols, often serving as an entry point to the wider internet.

- If the gateway is down, none of the computers in the office can access the internet.
- The network administrator configured the secure gateway to filter incoming traffic and prevent unauthorised access to the internal server.

Usage: Often used in the context of 'default gateway' in network settings.

### 4. to provide access

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

to make something available through a specific entrance or computer point.

For teachers: to provide or control access to a resource or network through a specific interface.

- The company decided to gateway their internal tools through a single secure portal.
- By gatewaying the legacy database through a modern API, the developers allowed the mobile app to retrieve real-time inventory data.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The router acts as a gateway to the internet.
- If the default gateway is configured incorrectly, your computer will be unable to communicate with devices outside your local network.
- In enterprise environments, a secure email gateway filters incoming traffic to block malicious attachments and phishing attempts before they reach the internal mail server.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.