Railroad crossing means: The American English term for a level crossing - a point where a road crosses a railway track at the same grade. Railroad crossings are marked by signals, gates, and warning signs and represent a. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
railroad crossing
The American English term for a level crossing — a point where a road crosses a railway track at the same grade.
Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
The American English term for a level crossing — a point where a road crosses a railway track at the same grade. Railroad crossings are marked by signals, gates, and warning signs and represent a significant road safety concern in the US, where the rail network frequently intersects with road traffic. In British English, the equivalent is 'level crossing.'
She slowed down at the railroad crossing as the lights started flashing and the gate came down.
Origin: Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
For parents
Railroad crossing means: The American English term for a level crossing - a point where a road crosses a railway track at the same grade. Railroad crossings are marked by signals, gates, and warning signs and represent a. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
railroad crossing means: The American English term for a level crossing - a point where a road crosses a railway track at the same grade. Railroad crossings are marked by signals, gates, and warning. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(US) An area on a road where a train crosses.
Cluster: general
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "railroad crossing" (R)
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Semantically related
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(chiefly, British) An at-grade crossing between a railway line and an ordinary road, with rails and road at the same level.
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(chiefly, US) An at-grade crossing between a railroad line and an ordinary road, with tracks and road at the same level.
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(rail, UK) A crossing where two railway lines cross each other on the same level.
- 64%
(rail, UK) A type of crossing found mainly in railway stations which allows passengers the opportunity to cross between platforms.