railway crossing; railroad crossing; level crossing
The common everyday meaning: a place where a road crosses railway tracks at the same level, often with gates and warning bells.
I waited at the railway crossing for the train to pass.
This railroad crossing often gets congested in the morning.
starting line; scratch line
A limited sports or competition use for a line or mark from which one starts or takes off; much less common for learners than the railway-crossing meaning.
In competition rules, the starting line is sometimes called 踏切.
Rare as modern standalone usage; in ordinary Japanese, 踏ん切り is much more familiar for the idea of making up one's mind.
The noun 踏切 rarely has the meaning of "determination."
stepping over the edge of the sumo ring
Sumo term for a wrestler's foot stepping beyond the ring boundary, which can decide the bout.
After the judges' conference, it was confirmed that the foot had stepped over the edge of the ring.
I crossed the railway crossing before the train came.
The crossing gates closed, and the cars stopped.
The crossing's warning bell started ringing.
railway crossing gate; railroad crossing gate; level crossing gate
railway crossing emergency button