Terminator

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈtɜː(ɹ)m.ɪn.eɪ.tÉ™(ɹ)/

Origin

From Latin terminator from the verb terminare.

Full definition of terminator

Noun

1. One who finishes.
2. (biochemistry) A DNA sequence which causes RNA transcription to cease and an mRNA transcript to break off.
3. (electronics) An electrical device that absorbs reflection at the end of a transmission line.
4. (astronomy) The line between the day side and the night side of a planet.
5. (science fiction) An artificial intelligence machine, created to destroy humans (after the 1984 film The Terminator).

Synonyms

• (astronomy) grey line