superhighway

UK: ˈsuːpəhaɪweɪ | US: ˈsuːpərhaɪweɪ

Definition

  1. n. a broad highway designed for high-speed traffic, typically with multiple lanes and limited access points

  2. n. (figurative) a fast or efficient route or system, especially in technology or communication

Structure
super <above, beyond>high <elevated>way <path, road>
Etymology

The word "superhighway" combines three morphemes:

  1. "Super" (from Latin super, meaning "above" or "beyond") emphasizes superiority or scale.
  2. "High" (from Old English hēah, meaning "elevated") suggests advanced or large-scale infrastructure.
  3. "Way" (from Old English weg, meaning "path" or "road") refers to the physical route.
    The term emerged in the early 20th century to describe major roads designed for high-speed travel, later extending metaphorically to describe rapid systems (e.g., "information superhighway").
Examples

  1. The new superhighway reduced travel time between the cities by half.

  2. Fiber-optic networks are often called the superhighways of digital communication.

  3. The government plans to expand the superhighway to ease traffic congestion.

  4. In the 1990s, the internet was famously dubbed the "information superhighway."

  5. Trucks dominate the superhighway, transporting goods across the country.