drive-in

[ drahyv-in ]

/ ˈdraɪvˌɪn /

a motion-picture theater, refreshment stand, bank, or other public facility designed to accommodate patrons in their automobiles.

of, relating to, or characteristic of such an establishment: Drive-in business far exceeded walk-in business.

Origin of drive-in

1925–30, Americanism; noun, adj. use of verb phrase drive in

On the way out of town we stopped at a drive-in grocery to buy ice for the cooler.

‘The Land of the Permanent Wave’ Is Bud Shrake’s Classic Take on ‘60s Texas |Edwin Shrake |February 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He made suggestions to the manager of the drive-in burger restaurant about what should be on the jukebox.

P.J. O’Rourke on Grabbing the Keys to Happiness |P. J. O’Rourke |January 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Drive-in burger restaurants played a crucial role in cruising.

P.J. O’Rourke on Grabbing the Keys to Happiness |P. J. O’Rourke |January 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He came around a blind corner of the drive-in lane just as an SUV pulled up.

The Reverse Travyon Martin Case and the Other George Zimmerman |Michael Daly |July 16, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

A drive-in is also convenient if a customer leaves his car while his battery is being repaired.

The Automobile Storage Battery |O. A. Witte
On the drive-in, Adine stopped the car while Davy invoiced his available cash at sixty-five dollars.

David Lannarck, Midget |George S. Harney
And this drive-in grocery that I was talking about, if you remember there—I think I had seen her there.

Warren Commission (11 of 26): Hearings Vol. XI (of 15) |The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
As soon as growth of business permits, a shop should have a drive-in, so that the customer may bring his car off the street.

The Automobile Storage Battery |O. A. Witte
As soon as possible, however, a shop which is large enough to have a drive-in should be rented or built.

The Automobile Storage Battery |O. A. Witte

drive-in

denoting a public facility or service designed to be used by patrons seated in their cars a drive-in bank

mainly US and Canadian a cinema designed to be used in such a manner