beltway
/ˈbɛltˌweɪ/ noun, proper noun, adjective
Forms beltways
- noun (US) A freeway that encircles a city.
- proper noun A 64-mile Interstate freeway surrounding Washington, D.C.
- proper noun (mostly local usage) The expressway that surrounds another city.
- proper noun (US politics) The US federal government and policy and lobbying organizations, located in Washington, D.C., sometimes with a suggestion of their elitism or insularity
- adjective Of or relating to the culture of Washington, D.C., sometimes with a suggestion of its elitism or insularity; politicized.
Synonyms
Etymology
From belt + way.
Extended from beltway (“freeway encircling a city”); compare also highway.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “beltway”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details