ENGLISH
REFERENCE

parkway

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɑɹˌkweɪ// UK //pˈɑːkweɪ// park·way Archaic

n. a wide road that often has trees and grass along the sides or in the middle. In some places, it is a highway that does not allow trucks.

n. a broad, landscaped thoroughfare, often featuring a median strip or verges planted with trees and grass. In specific North American jurisdictions, it refers to a limited-access highway from which commercial vehicles are excluded.


SIMPLE

The parkway is beautiful when the trees turn red in autumn.

CONTEXTUAL

We took the scenic parkway instead of the main highway to enjoy the greenery and avoid the heavy truck traffic.

COMPLEX

Urban planners designed the parkway to serve as a transitional space, blending the efficiency of modern transport with the aesthetic appeal of a public park.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From park + way.

Etymology 2

By surface analysis, a blend of car park + railway. However, it is possible that the term originally derived from Bristol Parkway railway station built in the early 1970s, which appears to have been named after the M32 motorway, also called Parkway because it runs through Stoke Park.

Usage

Commonly used in North American English; in other regions, it may specifically refer to the landscaped borders of a road rather than the road itself.

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