thoroughfare

Meaning

1. A passage; a way through.
2. A road open at both ends or connecting one area with another; a highway or main street.
3. The act of going through; passage; travel, transit.
4. An unobstructed waterway allowing passage for ships.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈθʌɹəfɛː/

Etymology

From Middle English thurghfare, corresponding to thorough- (“through”) + fare. Compare Old English þurhfaran (“to go through, go over, traverse, pierce, pass through, pass beyond, transcend, penetrate”). Compare also Old English þurhfær (“inner secret place”), German Durchfahrt (“passage through, thoroughfare”).