autostrada

[ aw-toh-strah-duh; Italian ou-taw-strah-dah ]

noun

, plural au·to·stra·das, Italian au·to·stra·de [ou-taw-, strah, -de].

1. (in Italy) a divided highway connecting major cities.

autostrada

/ ˈɔːtəʊˌstrɑːdə /

noun

1. an Italian motorway

Word History and Origins

Origin of autostrada¹

1925–30; < Italian, equivalent to auto auto + strada road, highway ≪ Latin ( via ) strāta; street

Word History and Origins

Origin of autostrada¹

from Italian, from auto car + strada road

Example Sentences

Italian state radio said there were several injured in the accident on the A14 autostrada near Forli’, a town in the Emilia-Romagna region in northeastern Italy.

From Seattle Times

“I made the same mistake as soldiers who go to war voluntarily,” Mr. Saviano said, reflecting on life since “Gomorrah,” as we drove south at high speed along the A1 autostrada.

From New York Times

The drink, for those who’ve never been in a road emergency on the Italian autostrada, might work as fuel for your Fiat in a pinch.

From Seattle Times

Why it’s not famous today can be explained only by its obscure location, almost exactly halfway between Venice and Trieste several miles south of the autostrada.

From New York Times

Here’s how it’s done: After the three-hour drive from Venice Marco Polo Airport toward Austria, pull off the autostrada into the inviting city of Bolzano.

From New York Times